Preparing for the Second Week of Advent

The second Sunday in Advent is December 5th. Be prepared to celebrate the second week in Advent by looking at ideas for that week. Here’s what we have on our calendar; pick one or two to add to your household’s activities that week, along with reading the Sunday Gospels together and attending Mass.

December 5th: Prepare for the Feast of St. Nicholas

• If you plan to observe the St. Nicholas Day tradition, have your children set out their shoes or hang their stockings before bed.

December 6th: Celebrate St. Nicholas

St. Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra and the inspiration for our Santa Claus traditions.

• Read about St. Nicholas.
• Eat something traditional. Options include a cake in the shape of a bishop’s mitre (Find simple directions on Catholic Cuisine), candy canes representing a bishop’s crozier, foil wrapped chocolate coins to represent the money St. Nicholas tossed into the home of the widower for his daughters’ dowries, and drink “bishopswyn” (mulled wine or cider).
• Recite the Nicene Creed. to commemorate St. Nicholas’ attendance at the Council of Nicea. (Some traditions hold he even punched a heretic at the Council!)
• The St. Nicholas Center has many different traditions from around the world to add to your family’s celebration.

December 7th: Celebrate St. Ambrose

St. Ambrose is a Doctor of the Church and was Bishop of Milan.

• Eat something with honey (like honey mustard chicken, caramels, or baklava), as St. Ambrose is a patron of beekeepers.
• Eat this Milanese-style minestrone soup.
• New Advent has the writings of St. Ambrose available to read here.

December 8th: Celebrate the Immaculate Conception

Celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

• Attend Mass. The Immaculate Conception is a Holy Day of Obligation. Mass at St. Anthony will be on the 8th at 5 p.m.
• Read about the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary.
• Eat white foods. White is a symbol of purity, so on this day when we celebrate Mary’s being conceived without the stain or original sin, enjoy some white foods. Find ideas on Catholic Cuisine.
• Pray the Hail Mary before meals and at bedtime.

December 9th: Celebrate St. Juan Diego

St. Juan Diego encountered the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe and had her chapel built in Mexico.

• Read St. Juan Diego’s story.
• Eat Mexican food. A simple Mexican soup like Sopa de Lima would be appropriate, with Mexican Wedding Cookies for dessert (make extra to freeze then enjoy as “snowballs” during the Christmas season). If you want to try something new, check out food ideas at Catholic Cuisine.
• Watch the movie Guadalupe: The Miracle and the Message on Amazon. (Will include ads.) (Use your discretion-may not be appropriate for more delicate viewers).

December 10th: Celebrate Our Lady of Loreto

Tradition holds that the birth home of the Blessed Mother was flown to Loreto, Italy to reside.

• Make gingerbread houses, to symbolize Our Lady’s home.
• Pray the Litany of Loreto.
• Read about this “young” feast of the Church.

Advent Activities at St. Anthony:

We have several opportunities to help you grow in faith during Advent as we prepare for the coming of Jesus.

• December 2: Blessed Are You: Advent Evening of Reflection. All parishioners are invited to explore the Good News of Advent. Join us from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. to discuss the scriptures we’ll hear this season and to share a few Advent cookies!
• December 5: Advent Adventure! Youth in high school and middle school will discover what’s special about Advent and probably dig up some fun and cookies along the way! 7 to 8:15 in the parish hall.
• December 8: The Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Mass times will be 5 p.m. at St. Anthony, and 7 p.m. at Sacred Heart. This is a holy day of obligation. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, also called Immaculate Conception Day, celebrates the belief in the sinless lifespan and Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, celebrated on December 8, nine months before the feast of the Nativity of Mary, celebrated on September 8.
• December 12: A Communal Penance service will be held at St. Anthony at 4 p.m.
• December 15: Stations of the Nativity. A favorite parish Advent activity returns! All parishioners are welcome to gather in church to focus through song and scripture on the coming of Emmanuel. 6:30 p.m. in the church, with refreshments to follow, ending by 7:30.
• St. Anthony’s online Advent Center, full of reflections, music playlists, prayers, and more.