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Celebrate the Second Week of

ADVENT

DECEMBER 2025

Celebrating Advent: its History and Traditions

By Lucy Gordan | Inside the Vatican


Although Advent falls at the end of our Gregorian calendar year, it marks the beginning of the liturgical year in Western Christianity. The term “Advent” derives from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival.” Thus it’s a time of waiting and preparation, filled with joy but also with repentance and penance. It anticipates the “coming of Christ” from three different perspectives: the nativity in Bethlehem, Christ’s reception in the heart of the believer, and the return of Christ at His Second Coming.


Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day or the Sunday which falls closest to November 30 (thus always between November 27 and December 3), and lasts through Christmas Eve. This year it begins on November 27. In the Catholic Church’s Roman Rite, the readings of Mass on the four Advent Sundays have distinct themes: on the first (Advent Sunday), the anticipation of Christ’s Second Coming; on the second, St. John the Baptist’s preaching; on the third, (Gaudete Sunday), the joy of Christ’s upcoming arrival; and on the fourth, the events involving Mary and Joseph leading up to the Nativity.

What do the four candles of Advent symbolize?

From Hallow.com


The four candles of Advent represent the four Sundays of Advent, and they respectively symbolize hope, peace, joy, and love. In some homes and parishes, people will also light a fifth candle on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to represent the birth of Jesus; this candle, when added to the Advent wreath, is typically white and larger than the other candles and is placed in the center of the wreath. 

What does the Advent wreath symbolize?

From Hallow.com



The circular shape of the Advent wreath symbolizes God’s infinite love for us – it is never-ending, just like the true Light of the World, Jesus, who leads us into eternal life with Him. The materials of the Advent wreath similarly lead us to reflect on the everlasting nature of God; traditionally, Advent wreaths have been made of evergreen leaves, such as pine or fir, which maintain their green color beyond the season in which they are collected. Nowadays, there are many modern interpretations of Advent wreaths that still help us celebrate the traditional meaning of the wreath: preparing the way for the Light of the World, Jesus. Battery-operated/LED wreaths are a good example of this as they simulate the four candles but don’t require lighting each week. 

Let's get our Hearts ready to bring Jesus into our life more deeply

Advent. slow down. take time. open up.


Step into a quiet moment of reflection with this powerful video from SpiritJuice, which invites us to pause, breathe, and enter the deeper mystery of the season. Its gentle visuals and contemplative tone draw the heart toward stillness, helping us reflect on God’s presence and the quiet hope that Advent brings. Take a moment to watch — and let its solemn beauty guide you into a spirit of prayer and anticipation.

Click the play button to watch the video.

99th Annual Spelman-Morehouse Christmas Carol Concert

Watch the 99th Annual Spelman-Morehouse Christmas Carol Concert, a beloved tradition that has ushered in the holiday season for generations of Atlanta residents. Experience the magic of the season with breathtaking performances by the Spelman and Morehouse Glee Clubs, featuring timeless carols, festive melodies, and soulful harmonies.


Copy and paste this link if you have issues with the play button: https://www.youtube.com/live/NAJEob5DHtM?si=sLWLY0jZg3xq3fAH

View the (PDF Document) Concert program here: https://tinyurl.com/jpe7a8zc

Why Are So Many Young Priests Leaving Ministry?

Priestly fraternity and lay support are of vital importance.

How can we do better?


By Jonah McKeown | National Catholic Register


When Toby — not his real name — approached the altar during his ordination Mass roughly a decade ago, he was understandably nervous — perhaps much more so than the average ordinand. 


Despite growing up Catholic, loving his faith, and enjoying constant encouragement throughout his seminary experience, Toby had nevertheless been harboring serious doubts about whether he could truly

Stock photo licensed to the NBCC from Adobe Stock Images.

say “Yes” to priesthood. But he says expectations from family, supporters and the seminary itself created a situation where he felt it impossible to step back from ordination.

Praying for Our Priests in a Time of Need

At a moment when the Church is witnessing a troubling rise in young priests stepping away from their vocations, our call to prayer becomes ever more urgent. Our priests carry immense spiritual, emotional, and pastoral burdens, often poured out quietly and without recognition. They stand with us in our joys and sorrows, offering the sacraments that sustain our faith—yet many struggle under the weight of isolation, fatigue, and the pressures of modern ministry. Now more than ever, the faithful are invited to lift our priests in prayer, asking God to strengthen, encourage, and protect them, so they may continue to serve with renewed hope and steadfast devotion.

Litany of Prayers for Priests

By Richard Cardinal Cushing


O Almighty Eternal God our Father, look upon the face of Your Son, and for love of Him Who is the Eternal High Priest, have pity on your priests. Remember O most compassionate God, that they are but weak and frail human beings. Stir up in them the grace of their vocation which is in them, so that they may never do anything in the slightest degree unworthy of their sublime vocation.  


O Jesus, Our Eternal High Priest, I pray:

— for Your faithful and fervent PRIESTS;

— for Your unfaithful and tepid PRIESTS;

— for Your PRIESTS laboring at home or abroad in distant mission fields;

— for Your tempted PRIESTS;

— for Your young PRIESTS;

— for Your dying PRIESTS;

— for the souls of Your PRIESTS in Purgatory.  


But above all, I commend to You:

— the PRIESTS dearest to me;

— the PRIEST who baptized me;

— the PRIESTS who absolved me from my sins;

— the PRIESTS at whose MASSES I assist;

— the PRIESTS who taught and instructed me about You and Your Holy Scriptures;

— the PRIESTS who helped and encouraged me to accept You as my Lord   

— and all the PRIESTS whom You sent to touch my life and those of my and Savior;

loved ones. 


Let Us Pray For:

The Holy Father: fill him with Your grace, Lord;

Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops: give them your gifts, Lord;

Diocesan Priests: never leave them, Lord;

Priests in seminary work: give them Your wisdom, Lord;

Priests in hospital work: give them constancy, Lord;

Priests who are ill: heal them, Lord;

Priests in danger: deliver them, Lord;

Priests who are weak: strengthen them, Lord;

Priests who are poor: relieve them, Lord;

Priests who are zealous: help them, Lord;

Priests who want to love You: enkindle their hearts, Lord;

Priests who are sad: console them, Lord;

Priests who are worried: give them peace, Lord;

Priests who are old: sustain them, Lord;

Priests who are young: impel them for your glory, Lord;

Priests who are alone: accompany them, Lord;

Missionary priests: protect them, Lord;

Priests who are preachers: enlighten them, Lord;

Priests who direct souls: instruct them, Lord;

Parish priests: make them perfect, Lord;

Priests and religious who have died: bring them to Glory, Lord;

All the Church, militant and suffering: Lord, have mercy.


For all Priests:

— Give them Your wisdom, Lord.

— Give them virtues.

— Give them patience and charity.

— Give them obedience and kindness.

— Give them a burning zeal for souls.

— Give them an intense love for the Eucharist.

— Give them loyalty to the Pope and their Bishops.

— Give them respect for their dignity.

— Give them a great love for Mary.

— Give them rectitude for justice.

— Give them the gift of counsel.

— Give them strength in their labors.

— Give them peace in their sufferings.

— Give them humility and generosity.

— Let them be the light of souls.

— Let them be the salt of the earth.

— Let them practice sacrifice and self denial.

— Let them enkindle hearts with the love of Mary.

— Let them be other Christs.

— Let them be holy in body and soul.

— May they be men of prayer.

— May faith shine forth in them.

— May they be faithful to their priestly vocation.

— May their hands know only how to bless.

— May they burn with love for You and for Mary. 

— May all their steps be for the glory of God.

— May the Holy Spirit possess them, and give them His gifts and fruits in

abundance.


Let us pray, O God, Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. You are the soul and the life of the Church. Hear the prayers we offer for priests. We ask this through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, their protector and guide. Amen. 

The text of this Litany of Prayer for Priests can be downloaded as a beautifully formatted booklet on the Foundation of Prayer for Priests website, or click the button below to download the pdf.


Currently, 
73 percent of 
Black adults in the United States are Christian, with 65 percent identifying as Protestant, 4 percent identifying

as Catholic, and 4 percent who are affiliated with other Christian groups.

Study Finds Black Americans Are More Religious Than Other Racial Groups

From the PEW Research Center, as published in the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education


Pew Research Center recently published the results of their 2023-2024 Religious Landscape Study. Now in its third iteration, the survey aims to provide a close examination of the religious beliefs among U.S. residents, including detailed information regarding Black Americans‘ religious affiliations and practices.

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