Advent Resources

Advent Basics

What is Advent?

Advent, commencing the liturgical year and spanning the four Sundays and weekdays preceding Christmas, is a season of preparation, focusing on Christ’s second coming and the celebration of His birth.

Schedule of Advent 2023

Easily navigate the Advent season with guidance on the ever-changing Advent dates and post-Christmas Church calendar events amidst the holiday rush.

Downloadable and printable resources

Explore these downloadable and printable Advent resources to enrich your Advent season

Liturgical Resources

Daily Reflections for Advent & Christmas / Reflexiones diarias para Adviento y Navidad

This annual guide offers accessible reflections on lectionary readings, enriching readers’ prayer life during the busy Advent and Christmas seasons.

Advent Wreath

The Advent wreath, along with other seasonal objects, enhances the parish community’s prayer and understanding.

Position of the Christmas Manger

The Christmas manger is meant to enhance the liturgical focus and should be proportionate to the space.

Time of Christmas Masses

Read this guide to make arrangements for Christmas masses during this joyous season.

2023 Cathedral Christmas Ornament

This angel features the Angel Detail from the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart

The Archdiocesan Pastoral Center December 2023

Preparing for Advent and savoring the experience of the first session of the Synod, “Missionary Discipleship” with Sister Teresa Maya, CCVI.

Devotionals and Reflections

2023 Advent Devotionals

Advent is a season filled with expectation and hope, fostering a deeper connection with Gospel stories, Christ, Mary, and community, with these resources intended to enrich the experience.

The Word Became Flesh – Word on Fire Advent Reflections

A rich Advent experience with Scripture and diverse reflections from Catholic tradition, making it an ideal companion for parishes, families, and individuals seeking a profound encounter with Christ during the Advent and Christmas season.

Hope for the Holidays: Finding Light at the Darkest Times of the Year

This unique book, creatively drawing from A Christmas Carol’s spiritual journey, offers empathy and hope for those who may feel lost during the holiday season, challenging the assumption of universal holiday cheer.

Rejoice! An Advent Pilgrimage into the Heart of Scripture

Explore the Sunday Mass readings that ground us during the Advent season.

Advent Gospel Reflections

Bishop Robert Barron guides you into a prayerful Advent season, offering daily Gospel readings, reflections, journaling space, and more to prepare actively and hopefully for the coming of the Lord.

Prayer and Meditation Apps

Amen

Amen, the free Catholic app, provides beautiful prayers, faithful meditations, and enriching Scripture to help you find peace and connection with God during Advent.

Hallow

Discover Hallow, the American Catholic meditation and prayer app, offering audio-guided Bible stories, prayers, meditations, sleep experiences, and Christian music for a spiritually enriching Advent journey.

Family Resources

7 Advent Resources The Whole Family Will Love

Advent, a season for preparing hearts for Christ’s birth and growing in holiness, can be marred by holiday distractions, but with intentionality, families can make the most of this spiritual growth opportunity.

How to make a Jesse Tree

The Jesse Tree tradition helps families explore Jesus’ ancestry through Old Testament stories and symbols, allowing for a collective or individual creation of this ‘family tree’ as part of Advent traditions.

3D Nativity Coloring Kit

Celebrate the diverse traditions of Nativities around the world with our 3D Nativity Coloring Kit, a creative way to embrace the story of the Incarnation during Advent and Christmas in your home, classroom, or parish.

Start a New Christmas Eve Family Tradition

Celebrate the grandeur of Christmas, a season lasting from 16 to 22 days, by exploring over 21 traditions and practices, both Catholic and simply delightful, to fully embrace the mystery of Christ’s birth with your family.

Small Group Resources

Advent Small Group Resources

These small group resources for Advent offer a meaningful way for individuals to come together and delve deeper into the season’s spiritual themes and reflections.

Free Resources for Advent and Christmas

Explore a valuable collection of free Advent and Christmas resources.

Advent: The Lord is Near Year B

Prepare for Advent by participating in a small group that explores the Sunday gospel readings, reflects on the season’s meaning, and encourages contemplation of your relationship with God and others, with a focus on faith-driven action.

Giving and Outreach

Giving Tree

The PDF explains the purpose of a giving tree in the church, detailing its role in facilitating charitable contributions and support for those in need during the holiday season.