Strong Catholic Family Faith
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Advent
​for Families

We encourage families to celebrate the liturgical year at home.  Faith practices are essential for family Catholic identity. Make memories and traditions that will last a lifetime and for the faith of your family.  Here are three steps to prepare for the season of Advent:
​
  1. Set up a place to pray together in your home, the kitchen or dining room table, a table in a corner, on top of a bookshelf or mantle.
  2. Use a symbol of Advent such as an advent wreath. Click here for Advent wreath background and how to make your own wreath. Place it on colored prayer cloth that reflects the season - Advent uses purple or blue.
  3. Choose a time that the family can gather regularly in the evening or morning or at a meal.
​
An Advent Playlist
A parish creates an Advent Playlist for families. In December we might see families less often because of the holidays, but we can share the teachings, rituals, and traditions of the season in creative methods. Why not help families learn and choose their own activities at home? Help families prepare for Jesus during Advent by offering videos, reflection, and activities they can use to create their own plan, their own playlist. This parish asked families to choose then to reflect on their plan, and share their reflections at their next faith formation session in January. Get creative. How could you use a faith formation "playlist"? 

Advent prayers and activities 

CHOSEN ESPECIALLY FOR YOU FROM SOME OF OUR FAVORITE WEBSITES:

 Advent Resources and Activities
What is Advent?  (USCCB)
Season of Advent Activities (Sadlier)
Advent Blooms Activity (Sadlier)
A busy Catholic's guide to celebrating Advent: 10 Tips for Observing the Season (National Catholic Reporter)
Advent Resources (Busted Halo)
Advent Articles and Resources (Building Faith)
New! Advent Reflection Guide Package  Reflections for the Sundays of Advent and Christmas season (Maryknoll)
Advent Traditions Game (Good Ground Press)
Advent Wreath Crafts for Kids (Catholic Icing)
Creating a Personal Online Advent Calendar  (MyAdvent) Upload photos, voice messages and videos to create your personal & free online advent calendars to share with friends and loved ones!
O Come, O Come Emmanuel Sing-Along Advent Hymn (Catholic Kids Media)
New! Advent Family Resources- (Project Nazareth Archdiocese of Boston)
New! Best Advent Ever (Dynamic Catholic) What is Advent? The Real Meaning of the Season/Activities

​Advent Family Resources  (Loyola Press)   ​
  • Activities
  • Calendars
  • Inspiration
  • The Jesse Tree
  • Prayers
  • Arts and Faith: Advent
  • Books
  • Advent A to Z E-Mail Series
  • More Advent Resources from Loyola Press
  • Receiving Advent

Family Advent and Christmas Traditions, Prayerful Reflections, Acts of Kindness (Diocese of Des Moines) 
NEW! Living This Advent - A four week journey by Kristi Quinlan 
  • Advent Faith Conversations Week 1
  • Advent Faith Conversations Week 2
  • Advent Faith Conversations Week 3
  • ​Advent Faith Conversations Week 4
  • Primer Semana de Adviento
  • Segunda Semana de Adviento
  • Tercera Semana de Adviento
  • Cuarta Semana de Adviento
  • The Jesse Tree Bible-Story Guide​
  • Family Christmas Movie Nights
  • Fostering Love at Home: An Advent Family Practice
​
Advent Prayers and Retreat
Advent and Christmas Prayers (CRS)
Advent and Christmas Prayers, Blessings (Diocese of Des Moines)
A Prayerful, Magical Catholic Family Advent & Christmas (The Liturgical Catechist)
The "O Antiphons" of Advent (USCCB)
Advent Retreat, Holy Women, Full of Grace (Good Ground Press)
Twelve Days Before Christmas (Renew International)

Blessing of an Advent Wreath
About Advent Wreaths (USCCB)
Blessing of an Advent Wreath (USCCB)
Advent Wreath Activity and Prayer for Young Families (Building Faith)
Advent Wreath Prayer (Good Ground Press)
The Advent Wreath (Diocese of Des Moines)

​Blessing of a Christmas Manger and Tree 
Blessing of a Christmas Manger or Nativity Scene (USCCB)
Manger Scene  (Good Ground Press)
Blessing of a Christmas Tree (USCCB)

Holy Days, Holidays and Special Remembrances

Catholic Feast Days (Catholic Apostolate Center)
This website features profiles of saints, special devotions in the church, including those who are blessed and Marian devotions, and other important events in the liturgical calendar.  This ever-growing website can serve as a reference to learn about the lives of holiness of saints throughout the whole Catholic Church.
​
​Advent Feast Days
  (Diocese of Des Moines)

Feast of St. Nicholas - December 6
  • St. Nicholas Day Blessing of Candy Canes (Sadlier)
  • Celebrate at Home (St. Nicholas Center)
  • Celebrate Advent Saints (Good Ground Press)
  • St Nicholas Activities, Crafts, Skits and More (Building Faith)​

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception - December 8
  • Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Franciscan Media)

​Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe - December 12
  • Celebrating the Feast of St. Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe (Catholic Icing)
  • Celebrate Advent Saints  (Good Ground Press)
  • Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe—Our Lady of Guadalupe (Loyola Press)
​
Feast of St. Lucy - December 13
  • Feast Day Fun:  St. Lucy (equippingcatholicfamilies.com)

Start of Los Posadas and Christmas Novena - December 16
  • Las Posadas - a Catholic Hispanic Tradition (Catholic Online)
  • Las Posadas Neighborhood Outreach- Family Activity- Bringing Jesus to your Neighbors (Diocese of Des Moines)
  • ​​Las Posadas y la fe/A Video on the Posadas in the United States in Spanish  (CRS)
  • Christmas Novena - December 16-24 (CatholicCulture.org)​
  • Home
    • About this Project
    • New >
      • Resources for Covid 19 and Stay at Home Orders
  • Faith Practice
    • Learning the Faith
    • Prayers & Praying >
      • Traditional Catholic Prayers
      • Praying
      • Prayers During the Pandemic
    • Reading the Bible
    • Catholic Social Teachings >
      • Life and Dignity of the Human Person
      • Call to Family, Community, and Participation
      • Solidarity
      • Care for God's Creation
    • Celebrating Rituals & Milestones >
      • Celebrating Rituals
      • Celebrating Milestones
    • Sharing Faith/Forming Disciples/Discerning Gifts
    • Serving Others
  • Church Year
    • Mass/Sunday Worship & Lectionary Resources
    • Advent >
      • For Families
      • For Parishes/Schools
    • Christmas >
      • For Families
      • For Parishes/Schools
    • Ordinary Time >
      • January/ February
    • LENT >
      • Lenten season resources
      • Breaking Open the Word - Lent - Cycle A
    • EASTER >
      • Easter Season Resources
      • Breaking Open the Word - Easter - Cycle A
    • Current Events >
      • Eucharistic Revival
      • Synod on Synodality
  • Sacraments
    • General
    • Sacraments of Initiation
    • Sacraments of Healing
    • Sacraments at the Service of Communion
  • Family
    • Parenting >
      • General
      • Young Children
      • Adolescents
      • Special Needs
      • Empty Nest
    • Partnering with Parents
    • Parent Faith Formation
    • Grandparents >
      • Grandparent resources
    • Meaningful and/or Difficult Conversations >
      • Addiction
      • Divorce
      • Death, Loss, Grief
      • Mental Health Issues
      • Transforming Hate into Love >
        • Racism
        • Combat Hate Conversations
      • Loving Relationships and Safe Environment >
        • Really Tough Topics
      • Violence, Tragedies, Disasters, and Pandemics
  • Media
    • Movie Reviews & Reviewer Resources
    • Programs on Streaming Services
    • Using Media and Technology
    • Videos for Faith Formation
  • Leadership
    • Learning New Approaches
    • Current Research, Resources, and Articles for Leaders
    • Webinars, Workshops, Conferences & More >
      • Archived Leadership Webinars, Workshops, & Conferences
    • On Church Documents Regarding Families
    • Presentation Tools & Tips for Leaders
    • Initiatives
  • Submit a Resource