Office of Family Life
Advent 2025: a season of hope, peace, joy and love
Advent is the four-week season of preparation for Christmas, beginning this year on November 30 and concluding on December 24. It ushers in the Christmas season, which starts with the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord on Christmas Day. Advent is a sacred time of prayer, reflection, and joyful anticipation of Christ’s coming.
Did you know?
ADVENT WREATHS -
The Advent wreath helps us prepare spiritually for Christmas. Its circular shape symbolizes God’s infinite love, and evergreen branches remind us of eternal life. Four candles—three violet and one rose—are lit each Sunday:
Week 1: Hope
Week 2: Peace
Week 3: Joy (Gaudete Sunday)
Week 4: Love
ADVENT CALENDARS -
Advent calendars are a wonderful way to enter into the Advent season. They include daily prayers and activities that guide our hearts and minds towards Jesus. Like the wreath, calendars help prepare you and your family spiritually for the birth of Jesus Christ.
Scroll down for suggested activities for each day of Advent!
Week 1: HOPE
Nov 30 (Sun): Pray this blessing and light the first candle of your Advent wreath. Sing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.
Start this Advent Coloring Countdown and continue to work on it each day throughout Advent.
Dec 1: Write down three hopes for this Advent season and pray for them.
Dec 2: Create a prayer chain with your family—each link a prayer intention.
Dec 3: Write an encouraging note for someone in need.
Dec 4: Perform a random act of kindness.
Dec 5: Host a family prayer night. Explore this Bible Scavenger Hunt as you journey through the remaining days of Advent.
Dec 6: Feast of St. Nicholas! Leave treats in shoes and discuss generosity.
Week 2: PEACE
Dec 7: Light two candles. Pray for peace in your family and the world.
Dec 8: Attend Mass for the Immaculate Conception.
Dec 9: Write Christmas cards with prayers for recipients.
Dec 10: Spend time in silence before the Blessed Sacrament. Complete a fun Christ-centered activity sheet like this.
Dec 11: Share a Scripture verse about peace. Talk about how you can bring more peace into the world.
Dec 12: Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Pray for those who are experiencing difficult pregnancies and for those who are experiencing child loss or infertility.
Kids draw a picture of Our Lady of the Prairie or a picture of your own mother and give it to her.
Dec 13: Drive/ride around looking at Christmas lights with hot chocolate. Count how many Nativity scenes or angels you see.
Week 3: JOY
Dec 14: Gaudete Sunday! Light the rose candle and rejoice.
Dec 15: Bless your Christmas tree. Kids draw a picture of Jesus’ birth and share it.
Dec 16: Bake and decorate Nativity themed cookies.
Dec 17: Begin the “O Antiphons.” Deliver cookies to a neighbor.
Dec 18: Bless your Nativity scene.
Dec 19: Share a family meal and talk about joy.
Dec 20: Invite someone alone to join you for dinner today, or at Christmas. Declutter all the unused toys and items and donate them to someone in need.
Week 4: LOVE
Dec 21: Light all candles and pray for Christ’s love to fill your heart.
Dec 22: Make a gratitude list.
Dec 23: Read Isaiah 7:14 and reflect on Emmanuel. Color Nativity or Christmas themed placemats to use on Christmas day.
Dec 24: Christmas Eve - Pause for silent prayer before Christmas Mass. Watch a movie on the Nativity.
Dec 25: CHRISTMAS DAY! Celebrate the birth of Christ! Read John 1:14: “And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.”
Finish coloring the last item (Baby Jesus!) from you Advent Coloring Countdown. Cut each item out and paste it onto a large piece of construction paper, creating your own Nativity scene.