This page is a collection of at-home practices and a schedule of gatherings at St. Ignatius to help keep the Advent season and prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus Christ at Christmas. These weeks before Christmas can be easily filled with shopping, socials, and seasonal displays, leaving no room in the inn of our hearts for Jesus. Together, let’s set aside time during Advent so our celebration of Christmas can manifest God’s love in our homes, neighborhood, and parish.
Throughout this page, you'll see an "Advent booklet" referenced. This booklet will be available the first Sunday of Advent at Mass. Download the Advent booklet in English and Spanish using the buttons below.
After Mass, come up to the Advent wreath to view it. Note that only one of the four candles is lit. The wreath "embraces" the Tabernacle - the real presence of Christ contained within. We witness the Real Presence by the décor and by how we reverently genuflect before the Body of Christ. The wreath with its colorful ornaments reflects the everlasting presence of God and our delight as we anticipate Christ’s return and the celebration of his Nativity.
Begin your Advent with a time of music and Adoration on the first Monday of Advent! Join us in the Church at 7 p.m. Praise and Worship music will be led by various musicians from our Youth Ministry + Life Teen Band collective.
Calling all children and youth of the parish: help us decorate for Christmas! Draw a scene from the Christmas story in the Bible and bring it to the Welcome Desk in the Narthex by December 15. Your artwork may be displayed in the Narthex or on the cover of the bulletin during the Christmas Season. Please use an 8.5 x 11” sheet of paper and write your name and parent contact information on the back. Not all artworks may be displayed. Artwork can be picked from the Welcome Desk up starting Saturday, January 18.
Praying with an Advent wreath is a wonderful tradition to help us visibly mark the passing of time during Advent at church and at home. At home, it is appropriate for Advent wreaths to be blessed on the First Sunday of Advent, or when we first pray with an Advent wreath during the Advent season. Place your wreath where you want to pray this Advent and use the blessing on page 4 of the Advent booklet or this PDF.
Place your Nativity scene in a place of prominence – a prayer space, the dining table, on a coffee table, or elsewhere. To draw yourself deeper into Advent, frequently gaze at the Manger and imagine yourself as one of the characters. What was it like to be a shepherd and hear the angel’s proclamation? What concerns did St. Joseph have during the long trek? What would you offer Jesus as one of the magi? For inspiration, read the Gospel of Luke’s telling of the Nativity (Chapters 1 & 2).
After you hang your last ornament but before you plug in the lights, bless your Christmas tree using the blessing on page 5 of the Advent booklet, or this PDF. By blessing the Christmas tree, we make explicit the connection between God’s generosity, and our generosity; the Tree of Life (the Cross), and our own tree and our own crosses; and the Light of the World and the lights on our tree. We offer back to God the gifts He has given us and make holy the space around the tree and the tree itself.
St. Nicholas is more than the image we have of Santa Claus today, but was a man of great generosity (read more here). In some homes, it is the custom for children and adults to place their shoes in front of the fireplace or another prominent place in the house. Before going to sleep, one of the parents places a small token gift (chocolate, apple, orange, ornament, etc.) and/or a short love note symbolizing St. Nicholas’ generous heart.
Pray with the full-page version of “The Last Judgment,” by Wassily Kandinsky on page 12 of the Advent booklet using the prayer guide on page 11 of the Advent booklet. The artwork and prayer guide can also be found on our Advent Art webpage.
From the moment Mary existed, she was preserved from original sin and its effects. Mary was proactively redeemed by Jesus. In celebrating her Immaculate Conception, we celebrate God’s plan for salvation for all humanity. Bishop Joe Vazquez has dispensed us of the obligation to attend Mass, but you are still encouraged to join us for Mass at 7 a.m., 12:05 p.m., or 7 p.m. (bilingual).
“Am I not here, I, who am your mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not the source of your joy? Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Do you need something more? Let nothing else worry you, disturb you.” – Our Lady of Guadalupe to San Juan Diego
All are invited to take part in the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas. See schedule below:
Children and youth are invited to help decorate the Church and bulletin by drawing a scene from the Christmas story in the Bible. See page 3 for more information.
St. Lucy, whose name means "light," is the patron saint of the blind. She was tortured and martyred for her dedication to her faith. St. Lucy is often depicted holding a platter with gouged eyeballs or wearing a crown of candles. Pray for St. Lucy's intercession today, that you may give sight to those who are hopeless and bring light in the darkness of persecution.
In the evening at home, instead of using overhead lights or lamps, try to use only candles (real or electric). Eat by candlelight, get ready for bed by candlelight, and read and pray by candlelight. In this way, we can connect ourselves to the Christians in the past who kept Advent by candlelight.
Pray with the full-page version of “St. John the Baptist Preaching,” by Mattia Preti on page 13 of the Advent booklet using the prayer guide on page 11 of the Advent booklet. The artwork and prayer guide can also be found on our Advent Art webpage, which will be updated weekly with the artwork for the next week.
Gaudete is Latin for rejoice. The color rose (a shade of pink) symbolizes our shared joy that Jesus is almost here! Wear rose (pink) to Mass.
Children and youth are invited to turn in their Christmas scene artwork to the Welcome Center by Sunday, December 15. Click here for more information.
Originating in England over 100 years ago, Advent Lessons and Carols is a prayer service that includes Scripture readings and Advent carols led by our Parish Choir. According to Eric Milner-White, who first adopted the Lessons and Carols service while he was dean at King’s College, Cambridge, the purpose of the service is "not to celebrate Christmas, but to expect it." At our service this year, our Parish Choir will present music on the Advent themes of hope, waiting, and joy, and three parishioners will share stories on these same major themes. All are welcome to a restful, prayerful, hope-filled evening of music, storytelling, and community.
In Mexico and other Latin American countries, the nine days leading up to Christmas are celebrated by a nightly reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for an inn or "posada." Join us at St. Ignatius for an evening of prayer, song, food, and fellowship!
Reflect on the joy in your life. Joy can serve as a reminder of God’s love for us, and we’re given this time of the year to rejoice with our God who loves us so much that He wanted to tell us in person. Take a moment this week to do at least one thing that brings you joy and offer that moment to God with a prayer: “Thank you God for the joy you give me in this moment.” To go further, take one action this week (or one action every day this week) to bring joy into the lives of your neighbors, coworkers, friends, family, or even a stranger. Be God’s joy and love in the world this week!
You may be familiar with the “O Antiphons” from the hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” – Wisdom, Lord, Root of Jesse, Key of David, Morning Star, King of Nations, and Emmanuel. The antiphons are prayed during the Evening Prayer of the Church (Vespers) from December 17 to 23. Rooted in imagery from the Old Testament, each antiphon is a title for the Messiah, and a petition for him to come and save the people of God by fulfilling the Scripture. Learn more and pray with the O Antiphons this week.
Pray with the full-page version of “Preaching of St. John the Baptist,” by Domenico Ghirlandaio on page 14 in the Advent booklet with the prayer guide on page 11 in the Advent booklet. The artwork and prayer guide can also be found on our Advent Art webpage, which will be updated weekly with the artwork for the next week.
Bring the infant Jesus figurine from your home nativity scene to church for a blessing by the priests or deacons on the Fourth Sunday of Advent. This tradition is popular in Italy and elsewhere in Europe.
In Mexico and other Latin American countries, the nine days leading up to Christmas are celebrated by a nightly reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for an inn or "posada." Join us in the Family Center for prayer, song, food, and fellowship!
Kids, high schoolers, and adults of all ages are invited to help decorate our church for Christmas! Help our many visitors and regular parishioners celebrate Christmas well by preparing a festive and inviting space. Our decorating is organized in such a way that people of any age can help, even the smallest of children. Usually, all the work is done within two hours. Come even if you can only help for a small amount of time. Our daily Mass will be at 9 a.m. that day, so come a little earlier to pray.
Click here to see the Mass Schedule
The blessing of the Christmas manger or nativity scene may take place on Christmas Eve or at another suitable time. This blessing can open our family celebration of Christmas at home, as we place the baby Jesus in the manger.
Go to page 9 of the Advent booklet for the blessing, or use this USCCB webpage.
Pray with the full-page version of “The Visitation,” by Henry Ossawa Tanner on the back cover of the Advent booklet with the prayer guide on page 11 of the Advent booklet. The artwork and the prayer guide can also be found on our Advent Art webpage, which will be updated weekly with the artwork for the next week.