Faith Life

Adult Formation

ADVENT RESOURCES 2020

In addition to our Saint Ignatius Advent Opportunities listed on our "Parents and Alumni" link on the right, please check out a few online resources from the Archdiocese to help you and your family journey through the most blessed season!  

Advent Reflection Books for Adults:
 

Catholic Health Association (CHA)
Sunday, November 29th, marked the beginning of the liturgical year and the season of Advent. To help Catholic health care organizations celebrate this important time, CHA has produced a reflection for each week of Advent as well as a Christmas reflection. (Link)

Catholic Relief Services
CRS “Gift of Hope” Catalog (Link)
Families or communities can purchase a symbolic animal or other life-saving gift. It covers a wide range of CRS programs around the world- Health, Education, Clean Water, Emergencies- and your donation is directed toward that specific program.

Chicago Catholic
Gift Guide (Link)

Dynamic Catholic: Best Advent Ever
Sign-up for their Advent season daily e-mails and videos. In addition to the personal journey, you will find resources for your parish – a guide, bulletin inserts, posters, etc. For more information, click here.

Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions
Liturgy preparation aid for the seasons of Advent and Christmas – Year of Grace 2020 available in English (PDF)
All resources (Link)

Ignatian Spirituality Resources
Enjoy Ignatian contemplation and reflective resources for the season of Advent, including video reflections, sign-up for daily e-mail reflections, online Advent calendar, podcasts, Advent examen, and articles. (Link)

National Pastoral Migratoria
We have been seeking compassionate, comprehensive immigration reform since 2005. In this 15th year of the journey may we accompany and welcome our immigrant sisters and brothers through prayer, reflection, and action. Please see our Advent Calendar 2020. (Advent Calendar)

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
The USCCB site offers the blessing of an Advent Wreath (Link)
And “O Antiphons of Advent” (Link)

University of Notre Dame
The McGrath Institute for Church Life is offering a free “Digital Advent and Christmas Calendar”. Subscribe to receive a daily e-mail which will contain a brief prayer and an image of a crèche from around the world. (Link)

University of Saint Mary of the Lake
Sign-up for their weekly advent reflections from their seminarians. (Link)
 
FOR CHILDREN
Missionary Childhood Association: Advent-Christmas Calendar (PDF)

FOR CATHOLIC EDUCATORS
National Catholic Education Association
The NCEA offers Advent resources that enable Catholic educators to help celebrate this season of Advent with students. Filled with research-based strategies, publications, website and technological tools, these resources will provide Catholic educators with insight and best practices during this Advent season: Advent Resources – with resource tabs for catechists, for families, for anyone

Religion Curriculum Publishers:

RECOMMENDED BOOKS FROM AMAZON.COM

 

Keeping the Seasons for Advent and Christmas 2020-2021: Bilingual Print and Digital Resources for Your Parish
This resource includes seven handouts, in English and in Spanish, one for each week of Advent and Christmas. On the front of each handout is a prayer, illustration, and a reflection on the Sunday Scripture. On the back is catechesis for each weekday about the day's Scripture, saint, or Catholic practices, along with a smaller illustration. Citations for Scripture readings are included with each day. By sharing the art and formation found in Keeping the Seasons, you can help parishioners celebrate the seasons of Advent and Christmas Time. (Link)
 
Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Henri J.M. Nouwen: Daily Scripture and Prayers together with Nouwen's Own Words.
The inspiring words of Henri J. M. Nouwen guide the faithful on a spiritual journey through the Advent and Christmas season in this book of waiting, hope, anticipation, and celebration. Each day of the Advent season (28 in all, to accommodate the varying number of days in the season) and each day of Christmas (12 in all, ending with Jesus' baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist) contain a pertinent excerpt from the writings of Father Nouwen, a related quotation from Scripture, a prayer for the day, and a suggested activity that offers a concrete response to mark the season.
(Link)
 
When God Comes Down: An Advent Study for Adults.
‘When God Comes Down’ is a five-week study, providing one lesson for each week of Advent and one for Christmas. Each lesson includes a key Scripture, a brief reflection, discussion/reflection questions, a brief prayer, and a focus for the coming week. In this study, Harnish explores the meaning of the incarnation…God with us in human flesh. (Link)
 
Wishing you a blessed and holy Advent Season!
-- Fr. Pat, Fr. Paul, Gail and Chuck

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