Denise Scott

For many Catholics, the start of Advent is the start of Christmas, and we get caught up in the commercialisation of Christmas and miss out on the lessons of the Advent season. In this First Week of Advent, the Church invites us to focus on Hope. Not the wishful, maybe-it-will-happen kind of hope, but the deep, steady, God-rooted hope that anchors us even when life feels unsettled, because “Hope never disappoints”.

As Trini women, we juggle plenty: work, children, ageing parents, church ministry, community service, and the long Christmas to-do list that somehow always finds its way onto our shoulders. But Advent calls us to pause. To breathe. To step away from the rush and reconnect with something eternal.

Here are five meaningful things we can do this week to nurture Hope within ourselves, our families, and our communities this year.

1. Light a Candle for Hope

Whether you have an Advent wreath or just a simple household candle, take a moment to light it with intention. Say a short prayer: “Lord, let Your hope shine in my home and in my heart.”

Light reminds us that even small faith can pierce darkness. And as women who often carry the emotional temperature of the home, this candle becomes a gentle reminder that hope begins with us.

2. Start a ‘Hope Journal’ for the Week

Write down one thing each day that reminds you God is still working in your life.
It could be:
• a stranger’s kindness
• a beautiful sunrise
• a quiet moment in morning traffic
• a child’s laughter

These little glimpses of grace are not coincidences; they’re seeds of hope. And documenting them trains our hearts to see God’s hand, even in ordinary moments.

3. Share a Story of Hope with Someone

Catholic women are natural storytellers; whether in the kitchen, WhatsApp chats, or after Mass on Sunday. Share one moment when God showed up for you. It doesn’t have to be dramatic (of course it’s better if you tell it with flair!). A small testimony shared with a sister or friend can ignite hope in her life, too. We never know how our stories can uplift someone silently carrying burdens.

4. Create a ‘Hope Space’ in Your Home

Choose one small area: a chair, a corner table, a bedside spot and dedicate it as your prayer space for the season. Place one hopeful symbol there: It could be a candle; a Scripture verse; a rosary; a photo of someone you’re praying for or a flower. When life gets loud (and December in Trinidad surely does), that corner becomes a sanctuary reminding you that hope is something we make room for intentionally.

5. Do One Act That Brings Hope to Someone Else

Hope grows when shared.
You can:
• surprise someone with groceries
• call an elderly relative who lives alone
• donate to someone’s Christmas hamper
• encourage a struggling co-worker
• give a child a toy or book they didn’t expect

These acts do more than meet needs; they whisper, “God hasn’t forgotten you.” And sometimes that reminder is everything.

Hope Begins Quietly

The First Week of Advent invites us to begin not with noise but with expectation. Not with frenzy, but with faithful waiting. Not with overwhelm, but with hope.

As Trini women, we are pillars of strength in our homes, workplaces, and communities. May this Advent open our hearts to a hope that renews, revives, and reminds us that God is always, always coming into our struggles, our joys, our waiting, and our stories.

Hope is not passive. It’s a posture.
This week, let’s stand in hope together.

Happy Advent