Advent/Christmas 2007

Encountering the Living Christ

"Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah!"

Advent Calendars  |  Family Resources  |  School Resources  |  Shopping Lists  |  Liturgy and Prayer  |  Epiphany

Does this theme sound familiar? Check it out!

Family Resources

• Family Conversations for Advent / English (in downloadable PDF format)
• Family Conversations for Advent / Spanish (in downloadable PDF format)
• Advent Calendar from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development
• Blessing of an Advent Wreath (in downloadable PDF format)
• Blessing of a Christmas Tree (in downloadable PDF format)
• Blessing of a Christmas Creche (in downloadable PDF format)
• An Adult Advent

Watching holiday movies together is a favorite pastime for families during the Christmas season.

Read movie reviews from USCCB's Office for Film and Broadcasting on your favorite Christmas classics to help you make decisions.

• A Christmas Carol (1951)
• A Christmas Story (1983)
• It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
• The Santa Clause (1994)
• The Santa Clause 2 (2002)
• The Santa Clause 3 (2006)

Stories are among the most engaging ways children learn. Set time aside to watch The First Christmas, an animated production telling the traditional story of the birth of Jesus, beginning with Mary and Joseph's trip to Bethlehem, and ending with the arrival of the Magi.

School Resources

• Advent Calendar from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development
• Classroom Advent Suggestions
• Watch selections from Picturing Mary and The Face: Jesus in Art for a informative presentation on religious art

Shopping Lists

• For Friends
• For Family
• For Children or Grandchildren
• For Parish
• For Yourself

Liturgy, Prayer, and Retreats

• Liturgy
• Festival of Lessons and Carols
• Sunday Readings
• First Sunday in Advent
• Second Sunday in Advent
• Third Sunday in Advent
• Fourth Sunday in Advent
• Christmas
• Feast of Holy Family
• Epiphany
• General Intercessions
• Proclamation of the Birth of Christ for use during Christmas Midnight Mass
• Prayer
• Pray the Novena for Peace and Justice—English or Spanish
• Advent Journey to Justice from Migration & Refugee Services
• Incorporate these classical prayers for peace into your daily cycle of Advent and Christmas prayer
• Draw from the fountain of global wisdom with Prayer without Borders from Catholic Relief Services
• Retreats
• Advent Retreat (based on this year’s catechetical theme)—English or Spanish

Epiphany—National Migration Week 2008

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were strangers, forced to flee to Egypt. The mystery of Christ's birth is an opportunity to reflect on Christian hospitality, outreach, and service, especially to immigrants. USCCB's Migration and Refugee Services have several resources to help parishes prepare for National Migration Week in 2008:

• Use these resources for preaching to reflect on Advent and Christmas as a journey
• Engage the Advent booklet to convert reflection into action for peace and justice
• Pray and reflect on migrant and refugee issues with the bilingual booklet Advent Journey to Justice/Adviento Caminar con Justicia
• Buy packets of prayer cards, posters, and booklets promoting the theme From Many, One Family of God
• Distribute bulletin inserts, bilingual calendars, and packages of cards