Advent & Christmas

Christmas Mass Times

Enjoy a special concert 30 minutes before each Christmas Mass

December 24th @ 4:00 PM

December 24th @ 9:00 PM

December 24th @ Midnight

December 25th @ 10:00 AM

Advent

Advent is the period of preparation and anticipation leading up to the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas Day. It typically begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and lasts for four weeks, although the exact dates may vary from year to year.

The word "Advent" comes from the Latin word "adventus," which means "coming" or "arrival."

During Advent, we focus on the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love as we prepare to welcome the Christ Child into the world.

Traditions associated with Advent include:

Lighting Advent candles: Many Catholics light an Advent wreath with four candles, one being lit each Sunday leading up to Christmas. The progressive lighting of these candles symbolizes the increasing brightness of Christ's coming.

Prayer and reflection: Catholics often engage in special prayers and reflections during Advent, including the recitation of the "O Antiphons" and the Advent wreath prayers.

Acts of charity: Advent is also a time for acts of charity and giving to those in need, reflecting the spirit of Christ's coming as the "Light of the World."

What is Advent?

Christmas

Christmas, the feast of the Nativity of Jesus, is the culmination of the Advent season. It is celebrated on December 25th by Catholics and many other Christians worldwide. Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, where He was born to the Virgin Mary and laid in a manger.

Traditions associated with Christmas in the Catholic faith include:

Attending Mass: Catholics attend special Masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The midnight Mass on Christmas Eve is particularly significant.

Nativity scenes: Many Catholic households and churches set up Nativity scenes, which depict the Holy Family, shepherds, the Magi, and other elements of the story, to visually represent the birth of Christ.

Christmas carols: Singing Christmas carols, especially hymns that focus on the birth of Christ, is a cherished tradition.

Sharing the message of Christ's love: Christmas is a time to share the love and message of Jesus Christ with others, to promote peace, goodwill, and acts of kindness.

These seasons hold deep spiritual significance for us, reminding us of the central event of our faith—the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ, who brought hope, salvation, and love to the world.

It's a time of reflection, prayer, and rejoicing in the belief that God's promise of salvation has been fulfilled in the birth of the Messiah.