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:
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.
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.
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:
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)