Advent means “arrival” in Latin, and for the Catholic Church, it’s a time when we await and prepare for the Christ Child’s birth.
How will you prepare for Christ’s coming in the next four weeks? Holy Cross apostolates have a variety of resources and events to help.
Each week of the year, including Advent, you can find reflections from Rev. Herb Yost, C.S.C., on the U.S. Province website. To get a daily activity for your Advent spiritual journey, ‘like’ us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Holy Cross Family Ministries
Family Rosary, a ministry of the U.S. Province’s Holy Cross Family Ministries, is again offering a free Advent and Christmas mobile app to help people stay focused on the real meaning of the season. The app, available for iPhones, iPads, Androids and all other smartphones, features meditative music with daily Scripture and reflections. It will be available beginning Friday.
You can find the format for your device on the Family Rosary website.
Ave Maria Press
The U.S. Province’s publishing ministry, Ave Maria Press, has a variety of Advent reflections and prayer books available. They include:
- “The Gift of Hope,” edited by Rev. Andrew Gawrych, C.S.C., includes Advent and Christmas reflections in the Holy Cross tradition (be sure to click the link above or the image for a free PDF version)
- “The Unsheltered Heart” by Rev. Ronald Raab, C.S.C.
- “The Living Gospel: Daily Devotions for Advent 2013” by Brendan McGuire; and
- “Sacred Space for Advent and the Christmas Season 2013-2014” by The Irish Jesuits
You can find those books and more on Ave’s website.
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame Alumni Association is offering a video reflection series throughout Advent. Rev. Edward A. Malloy, C.S.C., president emeritus of Notre Dame, will kick off the series beginning Sunday, Dec. 1. Sign up to receive the video reflections, daily Gospel reflections and Today’s Saint emails on the Faith ND website.
You can find the Advent Mass Schedule on the Campus Ministry page of ND’s website.
In addition, the Notre Dame Folk Choir, Liturgical Choir, Women’s Choir and Basilica Schola will offer Advent Lessons and Carols at 7:15 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Also at the Basilica, Advent vespers will take place at 7:15 p.m. Dec. 1 and 15 in the Lady Chapel. The public is invited to celebrate Mass withCoro Primaveraand the Notre Dame Folk Choir on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of all the Americas. Mass will begin at 5:15 p.m. Dec. 12 in the Basilica.
Stonehill College
Through Dec. 9, The Office of Campus Ministry at Stonehill College is sponsoring a giving tree. Faculty, students and staff can take a tag off the Giving Tree at CM to benefit one of 12 organizations whose wishes are on the tree. All gifts are due to the campus ministry office by 5 p.m. Dec. 9. In addition, O’Hara’s Hall Council is sponsoring Fair Trade Christmas Shopping at 8 p.m. Dec. 3 O’Hara Common Room through Catholic Relief Services.
Stonehill’s Lessons and Carolswill begin at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 7 in the Chapel of Mary. You can celebrate the Advent and Christmas seasons and hear the story of Christmas through music and readings.Following Lessons and Carols, celebrate the Festival of Light and Hope with the lighting of the tree and refreshments in the Gathering Place outside the Chapel.
Find out more about all the Advent events on the Stonehill webpage.
University of Portland
The University of Portland’s Orchestra will perform in concert that will include Christmas and holiday favorites beginning at 7:30 p.m. Dec. in the Buckley Center Auditorium. The concert is free and open to the public. Find out more about the orchestra concert on the UP website.
There also will be a free annual Advent concert at 8 p.m. Dec. 7 in St. Mary’s Cathedral. Although the concert is free, tickets are required. The Campus Ministry Advent Visio Divina with the St. John’s Bible will be at 7:15 p.m. Dec. 4 in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher.
King’s College
The King’s College choir, Cantores Christi Regis, will celebrate the season with free public performances at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 and 7 in the J. Carroll McCormick Campus Ministry Center. The 25-member group will perform contemporary and traditional Christmas songs. The concerts are part of the College’s “Experiencing the Arts” series. Learn more about the Christmas concert on King’s website.
