The word Advent comes from the Latin word Adventus, which means “coming, “arrival,” or “visit.”
Tag: Advent
From darkness into light this Advent
Our Motherhouse is located on a large property in a tiny village in rural France.
Advent is a time of cultivating tenderness toward God
Nearly 17 years ago, my heart was changed forever.
Celebrating Mary this Advent season
In the December issue of Magnificat, Fr. Sebastian White, OP, the editor, profoundly reflected on the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary as the sacred garden of God, where no sin or death can enter.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Advent
There is a recent product and consumer trend that I am torn about how to feel. Since well before Halloween — when many retailers already put out the Christmas stuff — another kind of seasonal item was filling the shelves — Advent calendars.
Advent time is here again
Every Advent, we hear the mighty voice of John the Baptist calling out in the desert, his radical voice urging people toward repentance, conversion, and purification.
Preparing our hearts for Jesus
For children as well as adults, it’s these little acts of self-sacrifice, of striving toward virtue, that help prepare our hearts during Advent.
St. Joseph guides us through Advent
During the Advent season this year, the Year of St. Joseph draws to a close on December 8. The order that God established in the world reveals to us time and again that with endings come new beginnings.
Mary helps to prepare us for Advent and Christmas
 |
|
We have begun another Church year with the season of Advent. During the first part of Advent, the readings of the Mass prepare us for the second coming of Christ in his glory.
Then on December 17 to December 24, the readings focus upon preparing us for Christ’s coming at Christmas.Advent event transformed online
 |
|
| In a video created for the online Lighting the Way event, St. John Vianney in Janesville parishioner Brenda Riley provides tips on how to make Advent wreaths using items from around the house.(Contibuted photo) |
JANESVILLE — At the start of each Advent, St. John Vianney Parish in Janesville hosts an Advent-by-candlelight event called Lighting the Way for Women.
The event is designed to help women, who are typically very busy during the holidays, start their Advent off right by enjoying a peaceful evening of prayer, reflection, and fellowship.
Growing event
Each year, attendance for Lighting the Way has grown.
In 2019, more than 220 women gathered at St. John Vianney for the event.
As fall 2020 progressed, it became clear that increasing COVID concerns and limitations on gatherings would make it impossible to hold the popular event in person.
Kris Kranenburg, coordinator of adult faith formation at St. John Vianney and one of the event organizers, started to hear from women who were saddened that the gathering couldn’t take place.
“Women were sharing beautiful stories of how Lighting the Way helped them to regroup spiritually and keep their focus on the season of Advent,” said Kranenburg.
“We didn’t want to lose that, especially in 2020 when it felt like so many other things had been taken away.”
Recognizing that people were tired of tuning in for virtual events on platforms like Zoom, the decision was made to create a website that would offer a variety of content.