Introducing an Advent Wreath as A Family Tradition

November 25, 2008

Advent is just around the corner, starting next Sunday, November 30.  One church tradition that is easy to also start at home is the lighting of an Advent wreath. 

The wreath can either be purchased or it can be made very easily.  Just gather some evergreen into a circular shape and place four candles along the circle.  Traditionally, three candles are purple and one is pink for the third Sunday of Advent.  But an easy adaptation is to use white candles or even white tealights and just wrap purple ribbon around three of the candles and pink around one.

You can use the same Advent prayers that you use at Mass each Sunday.  If you have children, however, you may want to select some prayers that are specifically written for children.  A good website for this is sponsored by the Passionist Missionaries. 

For each week of Advent, there is a very short prayer for the adults to read.  This is followed by a simple prayer for the children to read.  Read the prayers each day as you light the candles.

Light one purple candle for the first week of Advent from Sunday, Nov. 30 through Saturday, Dec. 6.  Light the same purple candle plus a second purple candle for the second week from Sunday, Dec. 7 through Saturday, Dec. 13.  Light both of these candles plus the pink one for the third week from Sunday, Dec. 14 through Saturday, Dec. 20.  And light all four candles each day from Sunday Dec. 21 till Christmas eve. 

Individuals, especially children, benefit from rituals, and this is a wonderful one to bring into your home.

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Schedule of Catholic Conferences in December 2008 and January 2009

November 18, 2008

The following Catholic national organizations have scheduled annual meetings in December and January:

12/4/2008  – 12/7/2008 
NCCYM – National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry: Formed by Living Water/Formados for Agua Viva
Cleveland, OH
 
12/31/2008  – 1/4/2009 
NCSC – National Catholic Student Coalition 25th Annual Leadership Conference – Our Catholic Faith, Our Nation in Need
Atlanta, GA

1/6/2009  – 1/9/2009 
CCMA – Catholic Campus Ministry Association and NADDCM – National Association of Diocesan Directors of Campus Ministry National Convention
Atlanta, GA
 
1/16/2009  – 1/21/2009 
NCOD – National Catholic Office for the Deaf Pastoral Week 2009 – 2009 National Conference for Pastoral Workers in Deaf Ministry: Bridging the Gap
San Mateo/San Francisco, CA
 
1/31/2009  – 2/2/2009 
ACCU – Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities Annual Meeting 2009 – Catholic Higher Education: Institutional Diversity Shared Purpose
Washington, DC

Visit the ActiveParishioner.com Calendar for more details and future events.

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US Bishops Speak of Solidarity during Economic Crisis

November 12, 2008

Meeting in Baltimore for their semi-annual gathering, the US bishops issued a statement addressing the economic crisis on Nov. 11, 2008.  Titled, Solidarity at a Time of Economic Crisis, this brief statement reminds people that we are “our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.”  The statement was delivered by the President, Cardinal Francis George, OMI of Chicago.  The text is included below.  Additional information about the meeting is available here.

“As the Catholic bishops of the United States gather in Baltimore and as servants of Jesus our hope, we bring with us our concern for people in our dioceses, and we want to express our active support and solidarity with all those who are being hurt by the current economic crisis.  As pastors and bishops, we see the many human and moral consequences of this crisis. Clearly, the impact is greater in some regions than others.  However, across our nation families are losing their homes; retirement savings are threatened; workers are losing jobs and health care; and many people are losing a sense of hope and security.

“This disturbing and complicated situation brings home a universal truth; we are all children of God. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.  We are all in this together.  Hard times can isolate us or they can bring us together.  The Catholic community will continue to reach out to those in need, stand with those who are hurt, and work for policies that bring greater compassion, accountability and justice to economic life.

“Pope Benedict XVI has outlined our goals in his 2008 World Day of Peace message: ‘The family needs to have a home, employment, and a just recognition of the domestic activity of parents, the possibility of schooling for children, and basic health care for all.’  He also insists that society and public policy should be ‘commited to assisting the family in these areas.’

“We offer our prayers for the families and individuals, our sisters and brothers, who are hurting, anxious or discouraged in these difficult times. We also pledge our prayers for our wounded nation and suffering world. We pray that, working together, we can find courage, wisdom and ways to build an economy of prosperity and greater justice for all.”

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2009 Liturgical Calendar for the US

November 11, 2008

The 2009 Liturgical Calendar for the US is now available online at the US Bishops’ Conference website.  The calendar is the official source for liturgies celebrated in US dioceses. 

The calendar contains helpful information such as the dates for the Ash Wednesday and for Advent.  It also contains the cycle of readings for both Sundays and weekday liturgies.

The calendar also includes the readings for each day of the year, as well as the feastdays that are celebrated liturgically. In addition, the calendar lists the color of vestments for each day.

To learn more about Mass and liturgical celebrations, visit ActiveParishioner.com’s website.

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Catholic Congressional Chaplain offers Prayer for Election Day

November 3, 2008

Not all Catholics are aware that the current Chaplain for the US House of Representatives is Catholic.  Fr. Daniel P. Coughlin began his term in March 2000.  He is the first Roman Catholic ever appointed to this position, which has existed since 1789.

The Chaplain’s roles include offering the opening prayer each day as the House of Representatives begins its session and offering personal counsel and general pastoral services to Congressional representatives and their families and staff.

Fr. Coughlin has offered a Prayer for Election Day.  As we prepare for election day tomorrow, Tuesday, why not pray this short prayer on our way to vote?

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Saints (with a smile)

November 2, 2008

Chances are that the homily at Mass this weekend had something to do with saints and All Saints Day which we celebrated on Saturday.  In modern times, many Catholics don’t give saints a second thought.  What are saints and how do they get named?

The Busted Halo website has produced a fun (and educational) video titled, The Saints on Halloween, starring Fr. James Martin, SJ, the author of My Life With the Saints.  This down-to-earth video clearly explains how saints are “made” and who they are.  In addition, the video offers some interesting facts about several saints.  Be sure to maintain a sense a humor, especially when watching the end!

On a more serious note, the video delivers profound wisdom when Martin helps us to understand what it truly means to be a saint.  As he explains, “Being holy means being who we are.”  I wonder how many of us have ever thought of it that way? 

Growing up Catholic, I always imagined saints to be distant people, well beyond our reach.  As an adult, I have come to realize how the saints were really one of us while they were alive.  Martin’s words are both calming and challenging.  If the saints were like us when they were alive, then what prevents us from being like them in our response to God?  Being a saint is quite simple, according to Martin.  “God calls us to be nothing more and, more importantly, nothing less than who we are called to be.” And isn’t that what we, too, are already striving to be?

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