St. Mary of the Woods, 7033 N. Moselle Ave., held an Advent wreath making party after the evening Mass on Nov. 30, 2019. The event was sponsored by the parish family association and included a pizza party and wreath blessing. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Advent: Slow down, appreciate anticipation of Christmas As Catholics begin a new liturgical year with the first Sunday of Advent, liturgical and catechetical leaders are reminding people to slow down and appreciate the weeks of hope and anticipation that lead up to Christmas.
Tips for enriching the Advent experience Sometimes the meaning of Advent can get lost in the parties and preparations for Christmas, but it is a time to draw closer to Christ in the quiet, according to Kevin Pease, director of the Scripture School at the Institute for Pastoral Studies at Loyola University Chicago.
How Pope Francis views Advent's call to hope Advent is a "continuous call to hope," says Pope Francis. It seems, then, that a key aim of this pre-Christmas season is to focus attention on hope's immense importance for everyone.