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Advent and Christmas: Opportunities to Draw Closer to Christ and Our Community
The calendar year is coming to a close, but for Catholics, a new year is already underway! Advent marks the start of a new liturgical year for us, and it is the perfect time to refocus our spiritual lives and prepare our hearts for Christmas. Here at Our Lady of the Assumption, we offer many ways to help you enter into this season of growth and preparation.
Just as we prepare our homes for Christmas, it’s also important to prepare our hearts. Prayer is the simplest way to draw nearer to Christ this Advent, and OLA will offer several opportunities for parishioners to come together in prayer, both in-person and online. The Advent Contemplative Prayer and Penance Service is one excellent way to enrich your Advent.
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“We offer contemplative Taizé prayer before the Penance Service,” says Casey Oliver, Music Director. “It is a beautiful opportunity to pray and prepare to return to the Lord through Confession. Praying together and then going to Confession together as a community is both consoling and humbling.”
The parish will also offer additional opportunities to pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary together, both in the church and over Zoom. The church will be open for Adoration on Tuesdays and Thursdays as well. “We hope that by providing multiple opportunities for prayer, parishioners will be encouraged to make a commitment to add prayer to their daily routine,” Casey says. “We hope everyone will take more time to pray both at home and inside the church.” Parishioners can look to Flocknote emails for additional faith formation opportunities throughout Advent. Videos and educational materials specific for the season of Advent will be shared through email.
Those who wish to engage more deeply with the Scripture readings from Mass might consider joining Living the Word, a group that meets to discuss the weekend readings. This is a great way to prepare for Mass each week. During the month of December they will be focusing on the Infancy Narratives.
Parishioners are also invited to several festivities. The school will be presenting a production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, acted by our middle school students and directed by Mr. Luippold, our 8th grade and drama teacher. The performance takes place in Affinito Hall on Wednesday, Dec. 15, at 7:00 p.m.
And come have coffee and donuts with Santa on Sunday, Dec. 12! Tickets are not required this year. Children can buy gifts for $1 in the Santa Shop and you can purchase goodies from the Martha and Mary Bake Sale.
The school will also present A Night of Carols. This will take place outdoors on the school campus on the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 14.
As we enter into this busy time of year, let’s remember to care for our neighbors, materially and spiritually. Our parish offers many ways to give back to the community. Christmas is also a wonderful time to invite friends and family into our parish festivities. “Personal invitations are very meaningful,” Casey says. “We hope many people from Carmichael and beyond will join us for our Advent and Christmas liturgies, prayer services, and events.”
