The Season of Advent December 1 December 24

The Season of Advent December 1 – December 24, 2013

Four Weeks • Happy New (Liturgical) Year! • Themes: Longing, Waiting Hopeful anticipation, • Preparing • COLOR: Violet/Pink • TONE: HUSHED, QUIET, REFLECTIVE

Feast Days and Holy Days • December 6: Feast of St. Nicholas • December 8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception: (Holy Day of Obligation) • December 12: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe • December 13: Feast of St. Lucy • December 14: Feast of St. John of the Cross

The Liturgical Year

Christmas Season December 25 – January 13, 2014 Themes: Incarnation, the Light, the Word Colors: White and Gold Feast Days: December 26: Feast of St. Stephen December 28: Feast of Holy Innocents January 1: Solemnity of Mary January 5: Feast of the Epiphany January 12: Feast of Baptism of the Lord

Ordinary Time (Winter) January 13 – March 4, 2014 8 SUNDAYS IN ORDINARY TIME Color: Green Themes: “Ordinary (numbered) Time” Feast Days: January 25: Feast of St. Paul January 28: Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas February 2: Presentation of the Lord ENDS ON “FAT TUESDAY” March 4 th

LENT: March 5 – April 16 LASTS FOR SIX SUNDAYS; COLOR: PURPLE THEMES: Repentance; Renewal; Reflection, Scrutiny Feasts and Holy Days: March 5 - Ash Wednesday March 17 – St. Patrick March 19 - Saint Joseph March 25 - The Annunciation of the Lord

HOLY WEEK April 13 – April 19 • Passion (Palm Sunday) – April 13 THE TRIDUUM (Lent is Over) THREE DAYS CELEBRATED AS ONE EVENT • April 17 – Holy Thursday • April 18 – Good Friday • April 19 – Holy Saturday

EASTER SEASON April 20 – June 8, 2014 • Themes: New Life, Resurrection, Joy • Color: White Feasts: (Many different Saints) • May 29 – Ascension of the Lord • May 31 – The Visitation (Mary and Elizabeth) JUNE 8: PENTECOST SUNDAY End of Easter Season

Ordinary Time (Summer) June 9 – November 29, 2014 Theme: Five Months Ordinary, Numbered Time Color: Green Some Feasts and Holy Days: • June 15 – Most Holy Trinity Sunday • June 22 –The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) • August 15 – Feast of the Assumption of Mary • Sept 8 - The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary • Nov 1 -2 – All Saints/All Souls Day

Let’s Return to NOW! ADVENT! • Advent in Two Minutes

What does Advent mean? • From Latin: “To come, the arrival” • Remembering the Coming of Christ so long ago at Bethlehem: aka: The Incarnation • Looking forward to the Coming of Christ at the end of time • Realizing the coming of Christ, every day, into our lives

Important Figures for Advent: Elijah the Prophet

Isaiah the Prophet

John the Baptist

Elizabeth, Mary’s Cousin

Zechariah

Mary

Joseph

How we Celebrate Advent • Slow down and be quiet • Pray in “watchful anticipation” • Perhaps around the Advent Wreath (very symbolic) • Perhaps around the Jesse Tree (also symbolic) • SUBTRACT, not ADD How is this possible during the holidays?

That’s up to YOU!