Advent

Advent is a season of joyful anticipation as we prepare for the coming of Jesus at Christmas. On a deeper level, anticipation during Advent is about fostering a greater desire for the Lord and his presence in our daily lives.

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Watch Archbishop Etienne's 2025 Advent video

Watch Archbishop Etienne's brief reflection on Advent this year.

Watch in English

Watch with Spanish captions

Ways to prepare...

Read or download the Advent Traditions resource to find a new family tradition: English | Spanish
Scroll down for inspirational articles from Northwest Catholic.
The Hallow prayer and meditation app for Catholics has its daily Advent Challenge that many people find helpful.
Print out the 2025 USCCB Advent Calendar and keep it handy for daily Advent inspiration.

Small Group Reflection Guide

This year's Advent Small Group Reflection Guide is a great resource for parishes or a group of family and friends to prepare for Christmas. This weekly guide features Advent readings, reflections from Pope Leo XIV, and questions for sharing and listening.

View and download at the following links:

English

Spanish

Prepare with the sacraments and adoration

This Advent, seek the Lord in the Eucharist at Mass, in adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament and in the cleansing sacrament of Reconciliation.

Search for Mass, Adoration and Reconciliation

Advent resources

Advent traditions and prayers

As you prepare for for the coming of the Lord, try something new this year:

Check out the downloadable Advent Family Traditions resource to find a new family tradition: English | Spanish
Use the USCCB's 2025 Advent Calendar for daily prayer and activity suggestions.

Advent Prayers:

Blessings for the Advent Wreath, Nativity Scene and Christmas Tree
Prayer suggestions when you light your Advent wreath: Go to USCCB's daily readings in English and Spanish, and find other suggestions at Dynamic Catholic.
St. Andrew Christmas Novena (on page 2 of Family Traditions resource).
The “O Antiphon” prayers start December 17 and go through December 23. These are short prayers to add to your daily Advent wreath prayers.
Pope Francis's prayer to the Holy Family in English and Spanish
The Hallow prayer and meditation app for Catholics has its yearly Advent Challenge that many people follow.

Ideas for children:

Holy Heroes free online Advent Adventure for children ages 5-12, with daily emails with short videos and printable coloring sheets.
Read Advent books to your children. Click here for suggestions
Jesse Tree tradition

For Catholic Advent supplies, from Advent wreaths and candles, faith-based Advent calendars (some with chocolate!), and more, click here.

For even more Advent ideas and inspirational Advent videos, go to the Archdiocese of Seattle's Faith Formation Advent resources page:
In English
In Spanish

Hispanic traditions and music

Hispanic Advent traditions:

December 3-11: Novena to prepare for the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12

December 12: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

December 16-24: Posadas. In many parishes, the Hispanic community celebrates the Posadas. “Posadas” is Spanish for “lodging” or “accommodation” and is a traditional celebration of nine days before Christmas, telling the story of Joseph and Mary on their journey looking for a place to stay before their baby Jesus was born. Each day corresponds to one month that Jesus was carried in the womb of the Virgin Mary.

For more Advent resources in Spanish, go to the Archdiocese of Seattle’s Faith Formation Advent page.

Hispanic Advent music:

Here is a list of Hispanic Advent music suggested by the Archdiocese of Seattle's Hispanic Ministry, with links to Spotify. Can also be found on other music platforms:

Adviento llegó by Unai Quirós, song for children. https://open.spotify.com/track/0bu6C1E1CzVgKj8mhpaUZg?si=13592a20771e455a
Adviento by Aprende con Marta. https://open.spotify.com/album/1t6aUDAVjXrrHHBu0GOL79?si=Vehd4X8DQNWbnflm4jnWQQ
Ven, Emmanuel by Jésed https://open.spotify.com/track/2IVZ7F5DKViKAOqrLOVApE?si=664d52a3bf7e47aa (this is the same song as in English)
Adeste Fideles, by Jésed https://open.spotify.com/track/0p59G5r7WiJfdyLxjboVPS?si=f56a87abbc384690
Mi alma glorifica al Señor (Magnificat), by Jaime Cortez https://open.spotify.com/track/0wewHJtDV9mAVwvQPuZunk?si=3d2c09e166b1431e

Parish, ministry and school resources

Click here for the Advent Communications toolkit PDF which links to Advent resources, images and more for parishes, schools and ministries to use in all their communications channels:

Communications toolkit which presents all the available images and messaging.
Image and color guide for you to use to create your own parish materials.
Family Traditions PDF to use as bulletin insert or shareable resource
Advent ad for bulletins to point to archseattle.org/advent
Social media posts
Banner to use on web and other digital channels

Encourage your parish and school community to go to archseattle.org/advent for Advent inspiration and ideas.

Trying to encourage your parishioners to pray more more during Advent? The Hallow app has an Advent Challenge with daily prayer that can be served up daily to your mobile device. To learn more, click here.

Feasts and Solemnities during Advent

The following saints' feast days are observed during Advent:

St. Andrew the Apostle, November 30. Pray the St. Andrew Christmas Novena from November 30 to Christmas.

St. Francis Xavier, December 3.

St. Nicholas, December 6. Learn all about this great saint here. Read this article from Northwest Catholic on ways to celebrate St. Nicholas Day.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, December 8. This is a holy day of obligation. Learn more.

The feast day of St. Juan Diego is December 9. Learn more here.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, December 12. Read more here. Join our local celebration and Mass at St. James Cathedral on December 7.

St. Lucy, December 13.

John of the Cross, December 14.

Inspirational Articles from Northwest Catholic

Get inspired by the following articles from Northwest Catholic. Find even more at nwcatholic.org.

Four steps to Christian discipleship in Advent

"We adopt a new way of waiting during Advent by looking forward to our daily opportunities to reach out to the poor in our families, neighborhoods and workplace. " Click here to read article

13 traditions for keeping an Advent attitude

"Here are 13 traditions and devotions that can make our Advent more meaningful and fruitful." Click here to read article

A path to a fruitful Advent

"Here are three steps for making this the best one (Advent) yet." Click here to read article

Insta-culture and a powerful Advent lesson on delayed gratification

“...Delayed gratification” is simply not part of American life anymore — and that’s as true of Catholics and other Christians as it is of the average American." Click here for the article.

Defy the darkness

Read this article from Bishop Schuster about the triumph of light over darkness during the Advent season. Click here to read article

Let the warmth of Advent pull the bleak midwinter from you

"It’s up to us to decide how we might give our heart during Advent. We may need a plan."

Click here to read article

A daily prayer to prepare our hearts...

"The St. Andrew Christmas Novena is not your typical nine-day novena..."

Click here to read article

When Jesus comes: An Advent reflection

"How can we prepare to receive Jesus in a transformative way this Advent? Some questions to consider..."

Click here for article.

Advent events and retreats

No event found!

What’s next?

Don’t forget that Christmas is more than a day; it’s an entire season. Think about how you want to keep the spirit of Christmas with prayer, celebration and new traditions.

Learn more