How Will You do Advent 2025?
November 30 - December 25
11 prayerful options to make this a meaningful Advent
1) Ues an Advent Wreath for family prayer time.
2) Join Advent Pray25: Be Still on the Hallow Prayer app
3) Join Best Advent Ever @ dynamiccatholic.com
4) Do an onine Advent Retreat @ praymorenovenas.com
5) Listen and pray using The God Minute Podcast
6) Read one chapter of Luke's Gospel each day (Dec 1-25)
7) Use a Daily Prayer Journal -
- Waiting Well by Fr. Mike Schmitz (ascensionpress.com)
- Illuminate by Fr. John Nepil (avemariapress.com)
8) Engage your children with Advent activities & resources from looktohomeandberadiant.com
9) Join the Novena to Our Lady of Guadalups beginging on Dec 4 @ St. Vincent
10) Attend the Taize Prayer Service on Dec 15.
11) Attend Daily Mass sometime during the week.
Advent Wreaths: A Catholic Tradition
THE SYMBOLISM
The traditional advent wreath consists of a circle of greenery with four candles. The circle represents God’s love which has no beginning nor end. The four candles represent the four weeks of advent in anticipation of our Savior’s birth and the 4,000 years that humanity waited for the Messiah. As the candles are lit in a progression — adding a candle each week, we are reminded of the Light of Christ that dispels the darkness of sin, and that we are meant to shine the light of Christ to the world.
THE FOUR CANDLES
Week 1: Hope (purple)
The “Prophet’s Candle” anticipating the birth of the Messiah
Week 2: Faith (purple)
The “Bethlehem Candle” reminding us of Mary and Joseph’s faith in God’s plan and their journey to Bethlehem
Week 3: Joy (pink)
The “Shepherd’s Candle” representing the joy of Christ’s birth
Week 4: Peace (purple)
The “Angels’ Candle” reminding us of the Angels’ message of “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men
A Fifth White Pillar
The “Christ Candle,” representing purity, may be added to the center of the wreath on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day
DOES YOUR FAMILY HAVE AN ADVENT WREATH?
A variety of Advent wreaths can be purchased online at: Catholiccompany.com or Catholicsupply.com or you can make your own advent wreath using a metal frame and either artificial or fresh greenery. Find Weekly Advent Wreath Prayers online at dynamiccatholic.com or other online sources.
The Novena of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas,
will begin on Thursday, December 4.
At each Novena the Rosary will be prayed along with
special prayers of intercession to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The Novenas take place at the following times in church:
Thursday, December 4, at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, December 5, at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 6, at 6:30 pm
Sunday, December 7, at 4:00 p.m. (after the 3:00 p.m. Spanish Mass)
Monday, December 8, at 7:15 p.m. (after the 6:00 p.m. Holy Day Mass)
Tuesday, December 9, at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, December 10, at 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 11, at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, December 12 - Mañanitas (Morning Praise) at 5:30 a.m. with Mass at 6:30 a.m.
Sunday, December 14 - Mass at 3:00 p.m. and Fiesta after in the Parish Center gym.
Everyone is Welcome!
Join us on Monday December 15 @ 6:30 p.m. for a Taizé service.
The evening will consist of meditative prayer with simple prayer-chants, and will be held in the Church.
Enjoy an evening of simple chants, a variety of musical instruments, prayer, candlelight, scripture, silence, and peace ... everything you need to get your heart ready to celebrate the season of Advent!
All are welcome!