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Advent and Christmas Schedule

The First Sunday of Advent signifies the start of a new liturgical year. Our liturgical year is grounded in the person of Jesus Christ and in the salvation offered to humanity through his life, passion, death, and resurrection, as well as through his teaching, preaching, and ministry. It is only right to begin the Liturgical Year by preparing for his birth because, without taking on our humanity, there would be nothing to redeem. The season of Advent focuses on the coming of Christ, both the first coming at his birth in Bethlehem and the Second Coming, when he appears in Glory at the end of time. With the first and second comings of Christ, we see that we worship a God who fulfills His eternal promises. We are also reminded to be ready. Be ready for his birth, be prepared for his return in Glory, because, as those who were unaware of God walking in the flesh 2,000 years ago, we sometimes forget that he continues to walk among us today, in those we meet on the journey of life.

Advent is a good time to refocus on our lives as disciples. The season of Advent is a period of waiting in darkness for the light that comes from the birth of our Savior on Christmas morning. Advent is marked by various liturgical changes, such as purple vestments, the Advent wreath in the sanctuary, the omission of the Gloria during Sunday liturgies, and the prayers of the Mass focusing on waiting for the Lord. And one addition is communal Vespers.

As we prepare to enter this sacred time of joyful anticipation, the Cathedral will once again offer sung Advent Vespers on the Sundays of Advent, November 30, Dec. 7, 14, and 21. Each Vesper’s service will be accompanied by a free organ recital at 3:30pm. Vespers, one of the “hinge hours” of the overall Liturgy of the Hours, is a communal prayer time that we share as a church community. It is a time when we come together to fulfill St. Paul’s command “to pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). All are welcome each week to pray with the Church as we await the coming of the Christ child, strengthening our bond as a community.

With Christmas just over three weeks away, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about Christmas flowers. Each year, our dedicated Art and Environment team transforms our sanctuary into a beautiful space ready to welcome Jesus in the flesh.

This year, we invite everyone to contribute to the Christmas flower fund in honor of a living person or in memory of someone who has passed away. Your generous donations will not only help us create a beautiful space but also serve as a loving tribute to those we honor. All names will be printed in the bulletin the week of Dec. 27/28, as long as you meet the print deadline of Wednesday, Dec. 17. A suggested donation is $15.00 per name; we will remember them at all Christmas Masses as well. Please scan the QR code to donate to the Christmas flower fund and register the name of the person you would like honored.

As we prepare once again to welcome the newborn king into our hearts and our lives through the preparations the season of Advent brings, let us renew our hope. Let us remember that God visits his people, and we are here to worship him in prayer, word, and deed. This season, let us be inspired by the spirit of Advent, a time of joyful anticipation and spiritual renewal. Let us prepare our hearts to welcome the Christ child, and let our actions reflect our faith and hope in the promises of God.