Advent Events Prepare Our Hearts and Direct Us to the Birth of Christ

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish has welcomed the arrival of Advent with the inaugural Advent Fair held Nov. 27 and 28 in the Fallon Center hall. After a three-year hiatus, this newly formatted event welcomed families to take part with free activities for all ages, various items for sale, and all turning our attention to the coming of Jesus at Christmas.

“These activities include putting faith into action during Advent,” says Candace Sperati, Coordinator of Children’s Faith Formation and Marriage. “The message for the fair was asking, what are we doing to look to Jesus’s arrival? We want to keep Him present in Advent.”

One of the activity packets provided during the fair included strands of hay. Children are asked to do something for Jesus each day of Advent — even a small thing — and with that act, they can place a strand of hay in a manger. By the time Christmas arrives, the manger is filled with soft hay for Jesus.

Advent wreaths and candles were sold, with the proceeds going toward the parish deficit. Baked goods and hot chocolate also were available for purchase.

Performing works of service is also an important part of Advent, and our middle school students and youth group are being asked to take part. Examples include writing cards to parish homebound families, or residents in the nursing home our parish supports, or to military families who have a loved one stationed far from home.

The students and families in Faith Formation also created Jesse Tree ornaments for the Advent Fair.

“Our parishioners are all so good about being involved,” Candace says.

A major service project Our Lady of Lourdes supports is “Wrapped With Love,” operated by Catholic Charities.

“Catholic Charities gives us a list of items needed, by age,” Candace says. “We distribute the list to our families and they bring gifts back into the church. One of our ministries takes the packages and wrapping paper to Catholic Charities. Last year, we had two truckloads of gifts! Catholic Charities then sets out the gifts so their client families can come in and buy what they want at low prices, to enable them to get items with dignity. Catholic Charities wants them to feel they are purchasing something for their families. The agency then wraps their choices.”

Plans are underway for the celebration of Christmas with music to fill our church.

On Christmas Eve, there will be a 4 p.m. Mass that traditionally is attended by families with children. The English Mass is at 7 p.m., followed by the Spanish Mass at 9 p.m. There also will be Midnight Mass celebrated. On Christmas Day, there will only be Mass at 10 a.m. There will be no 5 p.m. vigil Mass.

Brenda Accurso, Music and Liturgical Director, is planning to have Lyric, the children’s choir, sing for the 4 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass, and Cecilia’s Choir, the adult choir, will sing at the 7 p.m. Mass.

“Brenda will be bringing in extra musicians with violins and flutes, among other instruments, to make it a nice celebration,” Candace says.

Candace already is thinking about the Advent Fair for next year, with various ideas under consideration. But for now, she is focused on moving our parish forward through and past the challenges we all have faced as we look to celebrate the birth of Christ!