St. Mary of the Annunciation invites you to this unique event for Advent. Through beautiful Marian music and scripted narrative, participants will be invited to reflect upon Mary’s own physical and emotional experiences during this time to better understand what it must have been like as she awaited Jesus’ birth. Click image for more information.
Prepare the Way of the Lord
Advent comes from the Latin word meaning “coming.” Jesus is coming! Preparation for Christmas is an important theme for Advent, but more is involved. This reflective season gives us a vision of our lives as Christians. In these few short weeks we take in the sweeping panorama of time – from Christ’s birth to his Second Coming. The season of Advent brings us the magnificent vision of life and hope for the future given to us by Christ. It is also our time to become more involved, more caught up in the meaning and the possibilities of life as a Christian community. Thus we are preparing not only for Christmas but also for Christ’s Second Coming. This means that when he comes again, we will be awake and watchful. He will not find us asleep.
Scroll below for many resources to make the most of this season of reflection.
Worship and Formation
Join the St. Mary Community as we celebrate the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Thursday, December 8th. Mass will be celebrated at 6:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m and 7:00 p.m.
What a beautiful way to start the Advent Season! All women are invited to a special Advent Mass to help put hearts and minds in the right place during this busy season. This liturgy will be held on Wednesday, December 14th at 6:30 PM in the Main Church. Fellowship and hospitality will follow Mass in the meeting rooms. All are welcome!
Join our Filipino community in celebrating the annual event of Simbang Gabi. This year, St. Mary will offer Mass in the Main Church at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 16th. The Mass will also be live streamed on the parish Facebook page. All are welcome
Prepare for Christmas and deepen your experience of the Advent season this year with Arts & Faith: Advent. Each week Loyola Press will provide a video commentary about a work of art inspired by the Sunday Scriptures. Use these videos to take a new look at this season of hope and preparation through the lens of sacred art. Click image to visit Loyola Press.
During the season of Advent we prepare both for commemoration of Jesus’ first coming and our longing for his second coming. Bellarmine Retreat House in Barrington offers several retreats during the season to put hearts and minds in the right place. Visit the Bellarmine website for retreat schedule and to register.
Community Events
Our annual Giving Tree will be a little different this year. Instead of wrapped gifts, Most Blessed Trinity asked those interested to purchase Target or Walmart gift cards for families in need. Donations are accepted through December 4th.
Due to parishioner generosity we were able to support many families at our sharing parish. Gift Cards were delivered to Most Blessed Trinity on December 5th. Thank you!
On Saturday, December 17th, from 1-3pm, St. Nicholas and Santa Claus will be in the narthex in the Main Church. Enjoy pictures with Santa, cookies & Cocoa, and crafts! No registration is necessary and there is no cost to attend. For this Season of Giving non-perishable food items will be collected for the Fremont Food Pantry. Click here for more information.
Join our partner parish St. Francis de Sales for the Broken and Blessed Prayer service on December 5th. This evening will be filled with time for reflection and prayer and will include the opportunity for Reconciliation. Fr Paul Wachdorf will share the keynote reflection and Fr Bradley Zamora will lead us in prayerful song reflection. Click here for more information.
Advent Resources
During Advent, we eagerly anticipate the coming of Christ. However, we are not waiting for Jesus to be born—that event occurred over two thousand years ago. While we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus that has occurred, we also use the season of Advent to anticipate The Second Coming. Click here to read more.
What is Advent all about? How is Advent different than Christmas? In a BRAND NEW version of our classic video, Busted Halo explains the significance of this special season in the Church and why the experience of waiting, hope, and preparation is still so important in our lives today. Click here to view.
The Advent Gospels are bursting with Holy Moments, with men and women doing their part to collaborate with God in the most extraordinary event in history. Journey alongside them through Dynamic Catholic and be inspired to collaborate with God in every area of your life. Click here to register.
Inspiration from Loyola Press
Find articles to inspire you as you live the Advent season, from authors including Tom McGrath, Joan Wester Anderson, Jim Campbell, and Jane Knuth. Browse the articles offered by Loyola Press for a different inspiration each day. Click here for more.
Ignatian Advent Resource
During Advent, we contemplate the First Coming of Jesus as Savior, and anticipate his promised Second Coming. Amid the flurry of Christmas preparations, we look for ways to observe the holiness of the season in our everyday lives.
Ultimate Catholic Gift Guide
Advent: a time of praying, waiting, and giving. To help you with the first two, check out the Busted Halo Advent Calendar. For the third, check out this list of unique and spiritual Catholic-themed gifts for the whole family for some inspiration on faith filled gifts.
Christmas Mass Schedule
With great joy we will celebrate Christmas in person this year! Christmas Eve masses are at 3pm, 5pm & 10:30pm. Christmas Day masses are at 9:30am and 11:30am. Please note there WILL NOT be a 7:30 a.m. Mass on Saturday 12/25, and there will be no Confessions at 4:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve.