Search
-
Beginning the Church's liturgical year, Advent is the season leading up to the celebration of Christmas. Although Christmas appears to us in television ads, in department stores, and taped up in wrapping paper tied with ribbons, Father Roberts explains that the Advent season is more than the shopping-for-Christmas season; it is a time of preparation which directs our hearts and our minds to the fact that "the Word became flesh" to redeem all of creation. To learn more about the season of Advent, check out Father’s article, A Special Advent Reflection. Use this season of Advent to prepare your heart for the coming of Christ by joining the parish family for any or all of the following special Advent Masses, traditions, and events offered at St. Alphonsus Liguori.
Weekday Mass: Join us for weekday Masses at the following times in Advent:
Monday through Friday at 6:30 a.m. and 9 a.m., Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at 7:30 a.m.
Advent Decorations: Keeping with our parish traditions, the Arts and Environment Committee will make weekly changes around the narthex and sanctuary.
Parish Crèche: As we journey through the season and focus on different stories in Scripture, look for changes and additions to the parish's Crèche each week when you come to Mass! In front of the Crèche you will also find the traditional donation bucket for contributions to the next piece of the nativity scene.
Advent Adoration: Beginning immediately following the 9 a.m. Mass on Fridays and concluding with Benediction just before the 7:30 a.m., Eucharistic Adoration will take place in the Day Chapel throughout the season of Advent. Look for a signup sheet in the narthex to commit to spending a half hour or more with Jesus in Adoration.
Advent Reflections: Come, Lord Jesus" Series: Join us on Tuesday evenings during Advent (December 4, 11, 18) for presentations and discussions based on the reflections from Cardinal Dolan’s “Advent Reflections: Come, Lord Jesus” in this three-part series during the Advent season. You are welcome to come to one or all of the sessions that will meet in the Entry into Jerusalem room inside Weitzel Hall.
Advent Wreath: Look for the parish's Advent wreath that will be lit for the first time this season by the priests during the Masses on December 1 and 2. The wreath will be present and remain in the sanctuary as another candle is lit each week.
The Giving Tree: Share in Christ’s love for others by selecting a paper ornament or two from the Giving Tree in the narthex and contributing to those in need. Please return your unwrapped gift item to the collection boxes in the Narthex by December 5.
Middle School Advent Retreat: Registration for the retreat is due Wednesday, December 5. Starting at 6:30 on Friday, December 7 in Weitzel Hall, the retreat will continue into Saturday morning. Parents are invited to join the youth at the 9 a.m. Mass on Saturday celebrating the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, and then to stay for an activity until the retreat ends at 11 a.m. Please keep the youth in your prayers, that they might have a good experience on this retreat.
Advent Penance Service: Join us on Thursday, December 13 at 7 p.m. in celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation at this Advent Penance Service in preparation for celebrating the Nativity of our Lord. The service will take place inside the church.
FUN PAC’s - Families Unite Now Parents And Children: Filled with gifts which encourage family time, FUN PAC’s are presented to families who are clients of the Caring Center. Help out with this service project by donating board games, crafts, cookie mixes/cookie cutters, family appropriate movies, microwave popcorn etc. Drop off the gifts in the donation boxes in the narthex by Wednesday, December 12.
All women of the parish are then welcome to help the WINGS Ministry from 7 until 8 p.m. on Thursday, December 13 in the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin room to pack and wrap these special family gifts.
Young Adult Advent Prayer
On Saturday, December 22 young adults of the parish will be praying with the O Antiphons, a traditional Advent prayer used in the last 7 days before Christmas. The group will meet at 8 a.m. in the Day Chapel and then go for breakfast afterwards. (Young parents, infants and toddlers are welcome, too!)
See other Advent news from the parish