Keeping Advent at IHM

A FAMILY ADVENT OPEN HOUSE will be offered on the Third Sunday of Advent, December 15, 10:15- 11:15 a.m. and 6:15-7:15 p.m., in the historic church. Come hear beautiful Advent music, learn Advent customs from around the world and make Advent crafts for the home. All are welcome! 

THE GIVING TREE Help make Christmas a day of joy for many in need in our neighborhood. Kindly remove an angel tag from the tree in the church narthex, purchase and wrap the requested gift, affix the tag to the outside of the wrapped gift, ad return it no later than Sunday, December 8. Thank you from the St. Vincent de Paul Society. 
 
THE PARISH ADVENT PENANCE SERVICE  is Monday, December 2, at 7:00 p.m. Our parish priests will have the assistance of a number of neighboring priests in the celebration of the sacrament. Plan now to make this healing evening part of your preparation for Christmas

THE SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE  CONCEPTION,   the patronal feast of the Catholic Church in the United States, will be observed on December 9 and therefore it is not a day of obligation this year, but it remains a holy day of the highest order. Come honor the Mother of the Redeemer at 8:30 a.m. Mass on Monday, December 9.
 
THE FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE is Thursday, December 12. Pope St. John Paul II named Our Lady of Guadalupe the Patroness of All the Americas. Everyone is invited to the festive 7:00 p.m. mass in Spanish.
 
BLESSING OF EXPECTANT MOTHERS: As we hear the gospel of the Annunciation by the angel Gabriel to Mary, we will offer a special blessing for expectant mothers on the Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 22, at the 11:30 a.m. Mass in English and the 1:30 p.m. Mass in Spanish. All are welcome.
 
 

The Advent wreath is made of four candles—three purple and one rose—representing the Light of Christ com-ing into the world, and a circle of green branches, representing eternal life. Before the first candle is lighted, the household gathers for this blessing:

All make the sign of the cross: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The leader begins: Our help is in the name of the Lord. All respond: Who made heaven and earth. Then scripture is read from the family bible: Isaiah 9:1-7 (The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light...)

After a time of silence, all join in prayers of intercession and the Lord’s Prayer.

The leader then prays over the wreath: Lord our God, we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ: He is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples; his is the wisdom that teaches and guides us; he is the Savior of every nation. Lord God, let your blessing come upon us as we light the candles of this wreath. May the wreath and its light be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring us salvation. May he come quickly and not delay. We ask this through Christ our Lord. All respond: Amen.

The first candle is then lighted.

The leader says: May the light of Christ lead us to the joy of his Kingdom, now and forever.
All respond: Amen, making the sign of the cross. All end singing: O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appears. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel.

On each subsequent week of Advent as the candles are lighted, the house-hold joins in singing the verse of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel above. The rose-colored candle is lighted on the Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete, or Rejoice! Sunday.