Advent 2023: Prepare...

Advent is a time to prepare for the Lord's birth at Christmas and his second coming, but let's face it, it's not easy when the world is already celebrating Christmas in November. We're here to help...

Prepare with Archbishop Etienne

In this brief video, Archbishop Etienne gives some practical suggestions on how to prepare the way of the Lord this Advent.

Weekly Advent 2023 reflections

Look for new reflections from the bishops based on the Sunday scripture readings, added every week of Advent, to help you prepare for the coming of the Lord.

Scripture readings 1st Sunday of Advent

1st Sunday of Advent Scripture readings:

1st reading: Is 63:16B-17, 64:2-7

You, LORD, are our father,
our redeemer you are named forever.
Why do you let us wander, O LORD, from your ways, and harden our hearts so that we fear you not?
Return for the sake of your servants,
the tribes of your heritage.
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, with the mountains quaking before you, while you wrought awesome deeds we could not hope for, such as they had not heard of from of old.
No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen, any God but you doing such deeds for those who wait for him. Would that you might meet us doing right, that we were mindful of you in our ways!
Behold, you are angry, and we are sinful;
all of us have become like unclean people,
all our good deeds are like polluted rags;
we have all withered like leaves,
and our guilt carries us away like the wind.
There is none who calls upon your name,
who rouses himself to cling to you;
for you have hidden your face from us
and have delivered us up to our guilt.
Yet, O LORD, you are our father;
we are the clay and you the potter:
we are all the work of your hands.

Psalm: PS 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19

R. (4) Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hearken,
from your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth. Rouse your power, and come to save us.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see;
take care of this vine, and protect what your right hand has planted the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
May your help be with the man of your right hand, with the son of man whom you yourself made strong. Then we will no more withdraw from you; give us new life, and we will call upon your name.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

2nd reading: 1 COR 1:3-9

Brothers and sisters:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, that in him you were enriched in every way, with all discourse and all knowledge, as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you, so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will keep you firm to the end,
irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Gospel: Mark 13:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be watchful! Be alert!
You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad.
He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his own work,
and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore; you do not know when the lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.
What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

For today's readings, click here.

Week 1 reflection by Archbishop Etienne

Week 1 reflection in Spanish

View or download a pdf of all the reflections in English or Spanish.

Ways to prepare...

Watch Archbishop Etienne's video for suggestions.
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.

Prepare with the sacraments and adoration

There’s no better way to prepare and pray than through the Eucharist and Reconciliation. This Advent, consider spending some time every week in adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

Search for Mass, Reconciliation and Adoration

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.

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.
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 prayers and 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, read “Hispanic Religious Practices During COVID-19 Pandemic”:
In English
In Spanish

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

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 2.

St. Lucy, December 13.

John of the Cross, December 14.

Parish, ministry and school resources

Find everything you need to inspire your community to fully engage in the season of Advent with the following Advent resources.

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

Below is a list of assets and resources in English and Spanish (find links to each folder below list):

Communications plan with suggested messaging and how-tos
Family Traditions PDF to use as bulletin insert or shareable resource
Advent ad for bulletins to point to archseattle.org/advent
Social media posts
Web and and email banners
A PDF with the Sunday reflections and questions by the bishops
Pope Francis' Prayer to the Holy Family

Click here for the above assets in English

Click here for the assets in Spanish

Link to Archbishop Etienne's downloadable introduction to Advent video: https://vimeo.com/878843551/e93491ee30

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.

Inspirational Articles from Northwest Catholic

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

St. Therese of Lisieux: My guide through Advent

Learn how St. Therese and her little way can be a guide through Advent. Click here for article.

The gift of silence in Advent

“In our world of sensory overload, one of the greatest gifts we can offer our families is a time of silence.” Read the column from Northwest Catholic.

Nativity scene project shines spotlight on presence of Christ

Learn how one man inspired his community to put up 500 Nativity scenes to remind people of what Advent and Christmas are truly about. Click here for article.

Pope contemplates greatness of God's love in simplicity of a creche.

"A key message of the Nativity scene is that the mystery of Christmas “loves to hide within what is infinitely small,” the pope wrote... Click here for article.

Advent Events, Retreats and Masses

December

All Day

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the most important Marian feasts of the liturgical calendar and a holy day of obligation. ...

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