Venturing into Advent!
On Sunday, November 29th, we begin the new Liturgical Year-Advent!
Kindergarten Students will continue to use Flipgrid: Lesson 21 & 22
Grades 1-8 will not have assigned Flipgrid chapters during the month of December. In the beginning chapters for each grade level is a chapter on Advent and a chapter on Christmas. If all families would go to: www.formed.org (sign up with SS Mary & Mathias parish) and put your in name and email. In the SEARCH: Brother Francis-The Days of Advent, is a short reflection for your family as you venture throughout the days of Advent. The biggest Advent promise would be to attend Mass on each Saturday/Sunday during the season of Advent—either in person or virtually. EUCHARIST means THANKSGIVING!
Sincerely,
Sister Cheryl
This week...
- Meaningful conversations this Thanksgiving
- COVID 19 Update: A Letter from Fr. Chris
- It's Advent (almost)!
- Advent by Candlelight: A Virtual Night of Reflection for Women
This Thanksgiving is going to be different. But that doesn't mean it can't be meaningful. Here are some great ideas and questions to have meaningful conversations with the young people in your life you care about.
A Letter from Fr. Chris...
In recent days and weeks our area has seen a significant increase in the rate of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Local public health officials are asking all of us to be particularly vigilant at this time to help stem the tide of virus transmission and to take the pressure off our local healthcare workers and facilities. Just this past week Governor Reynolds signed a new proclamation imposing a number of additional measures designed to help keep Iowans safe and healthy. For those who are wondering how that will affect us here at Saints Mary and Mathias, I wanted to share the following with you...
It's Advent! (Almost) Many families and countries have different ideas and traditions on how to celebrate Advent versus Christmas. Some do not sing or listen to any Christmas carols until Christmas Eve, in order to make sure that Advent celebrations don’t become Christmas celebrations.
But this doesn’t mean you have to pass up every Christmas party invitation you receive to make sure you are celebrating Advent properly. Instead, remember to keep the spirit of Advent in everything you do until Christmas Eve. This means having a spirit of hopeful longing, joyful expectation, prayerful penance and spiritual preparation. Watch this short video from Fr. Mike Schmitz, as he explains more about how we can celebrate Advent in preparation for Christmas.
But this doesn’t mean you have to pass up every Christmas party invitation you receive to make sure you are celebrating Advent properly. Instead, remember to keep the spirit of Advent in everything you do until Christmas Eve. This means having a spirit of hopeful longing, joyful expectation, prayerful penance and spiritual preparation. Watch this short video from Fr. Mike Schmitz, as he explains more about how we can celebrate Advent in preparation for Christmas.
Advent by Candlelight: A Virtual Reflection for Women
Tuesday December 8th, 6:30PM
A virtual night of Advent reflection specifically for women to reflect on Mary and to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. This night of reflection will take place via Zoom. You can register by following the link below. We look forward to coming together as women to honor Mary!