Advent

Make Our Hearts Like Yours

This Advent, we ask Jesus to make our hearts like his and transform us through his Sacred Heart as we prepare for his coming.

"The ultimate goal of the Sacred Heart devotion is that the heart of Jesus and the human heart become one." ~ Archbishop Paul D. Etienne, Pastoral Letter on the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Prepare for Advent with the Sacred Heart

What better way to lean into the Advent season than to increase our devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus? He chose to become incarnate in the most meek and humblest way. Let us ask him to transform our hearts as we prepare for Christmas. Suggestions:

Live the the Sacred Heart Devotion
Consecrate your home to the Sacred Heart
Spend time with Jesus in Adoration

Click here to learn more about the Sacred Heart Devotion.

Advent Reflection Guide Cover 2026 in English_I2

Small Group Reflection Guide

The new Advent 2026 Small Group Reflection Guide is a great resource for small groups at parishes, families and groups of friends to prepare for Christmas. This weekly guide features Advent readings and reflections on the Sacred Heart from Archbishop Etienne, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and Blessed Fulton Sheen.

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:

New resources will be added here by early November 2026.

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

Coming soon (by early Nov 2026): 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, Priest, 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.

St. Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, December 7.

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 feast day, December 12. Read more here. Join our local celebration and Mass at St. James Cathedral on December 5.

St. Lucy, December 13.

St. 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

December

All Day

Immaculate Conception

Join Archbishop Etienne at Mass to celebrate the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary at St. James Cathedral. ...

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