December's Question
Remember, every Christmas Carol is a Christmas Song, but not every Christmas Song is a Christmas Carol. Christmas Carols are written from a Christian biblical tradition and are about the birth of Jesus, such as Silent Night and The First Noel.
STAFF PICKS
Click on a staff picture to see which Christmas carol is the staff member's favorite.
Jackie's favorite Christmas Carols
Many of my favorite Christmas Carols are in French and Spanish! The one I chose to share was performed in Spanish by David Archuletta, Pastores a Belén means Shepherds to Bethlehem. It is a beautiful song of the shepherds rushing to see baby Jesus.
They run so fast they lose their shoes! They are so excited to see Him, they won’t let anything get in the way of meeting the newborn King! I pray that we will all be as excited to greet Him!
Fr. Bob's favorite Christmas Carol
My favorite Christmas Carol is Silent Night because it’s such a beautiful, simple and familiar melody with words that get to the heart of what Christmas is all about.
Jen's favorite Christmas Carol
O Holy Night is such a beautiful carol. It is special to me because it was my mother’s favorite, so it was always playing at Christmas time! I am the oldest of five children, but every year in December my Mom would pick a special day for just me and her to visit the Enchanted Village when it was at Jordan Marsh in downtown crossing. We would listen to carols in the car (this was always on the list), window shop in the city, and she would always let me pick out a Christmas snow globe for my collection. Hearing this carol brings back so many memories and so much Christmas joy!
Mary's favorite Christmas Carol
Oh so many good Carols to choose but my pick of Christmas Carol is non traditional. I love the traditional hymns and always have, however my newest affinity in Christmas songs is “Mary Did You Know?” It weaves the story of Mary as a young mother doting over her infant son with the story of Jesus’ life and the prophecy He fulfilled. Did she actually know that when she kissed her little baby, she “kissed the face of God?” What beautiful imagery!
Jeanne's favorite Christmas Carol
The little drummer boy is one of my favorite Christmas Carols. I always take note of it when it comes on the radio or you hear it played in a store because it isn't played nearly as often as some others. It makes me smile and tear up all at once. Can you think of a more inappropriate gift to bring a newborn and his mother than a drum solo? That makes me smile! But the little Drummer Boy shares himself. His music is his gift and he puts himself out there for Jesus! In the song he asks, "Shall I play for you? " and "Mary nods." The part that gets me every time is, "I played for Him... and he smiled at me." Jesus wants our finest gift to be ourselves. Share yourself and all your gifts even if they aren't perfect with the newborn king and he smiles!
Matt's favorite Christmas Carol
Growing up, my parish back in Ohio began Christmas Mass every year with O Come All Ye Faithful. Every time I hear it now I am reminded of that childhood joy I experienced when all of the waiting for Christmas was over and we could finally celebrate the birth of Jesus!
BUILDING MORE BRIDGES
Click a category for this month's activities.
Advent Wreath Crafts For Kids
Advent is a great time to celebrate with kids! Sometimes it’s hard to find good Advent crafts because the world just seems to move straight from Halloween to Christmas, but having an Advent wreath in our home is one of our favorite family traditions for living the liturgical year!
From catholicicing.com
The Advent Song for Kids
This song was written and submitted by a reader, Alexandra Montano, and it is so cute! I love singing little songs with Catholic kids, and kids remember things so well when they are in songs.
From catholicicing.com
Good Deeds Chain Advent Activity
Remind the children that this is not a competition between members of your group. Everyone should be trying to do the best job possible.
From loyolapress.com
10 Meaningful Advent Traditions for Catholic Families
The holiday season can be overwhelming, but there are so many wonderful Catholic Advent traditions from all over the world that can be easily implemented into your celebrations!
From catholicicing.com
Advent Saints-December Feasts Days To Celebrate With Kids
There are plenty of feast days to celebrate with Catholic kids during Advent to really enhance your time with your family and turn it towards the true meaning of the season.
From catholicicing.com
Advent Wreath Coloring Page
Download this Advent Wreath coloring page and enjoy coloring it in.
Away in a Manger Christmas Cookies
We made these super easy Baby Jesus cookies for Lydia’s Christmas pageant yesterday, and I wanted to share them with you. They’re super easy to make, don’t involve any cooking at all, and even kids can make them.
From www.catholicicing.com
Advent Calendar Game
This advent calendar is designed to be like a board game. You move your game piece along one step each day and take a card from your deck of cards to see what surprise or event will happen that day.
From www.alphamom.com
Christmas True or False Game
Try the Christmas True or False game. If you are unsure of your answers, look them up in the Bible.
Nativity Dominoes / Loop Game
Print and cut the domino cards. Then arrange domino cards in order by matching images and descriptions.
Nativity Word Search Game
Find the following 20 hidden words from the nativity story in the grid. They can run in any direction (horizontal, vertical, diagonal, forwards, backwards).
Nativity Story - Don't Say It Game
Teams take turns. One player picks up a card and tries to explain the word at the top. They are not allowed to use the 3 words printed below in thei explanation. The rest of their team guesses the answer. To make the game more difficult a time limit can be given for each card.
Be Grateful this Advent Season
Remember God's goodness in all the small ways!
Advent Escape Room
Follow the clues found in your Bridge Bag. After answering each question correctly, you will receive a letter. Once you have all of the letters, you can unscramble them to find the password needed to escape!
After completing the Escape Room or if you get stuck, Watch this Youtube video of Matt explaining all of the clues.
Advent Calendar
Download the Advent Calendar featuring 25 Bible verses to countdown to Christmas.
From www.happyhomefairy.com
Middle School Zoom Link
What is Jesse Tree?
Jesse Tree is a way of preparing for Advent by journeying through the stories on Jesus’s family tree. Each day of Advent, read a Bible story about someone on Jesus’s family tree and hang an ornament symbolizing the story on your Jesse Tree. As you decorate your tree, you’ll see how God prepared for Jesus to be born through many generations.
Introduction to Advent
Brother Francis introduces this year's Advent season. We'll be posting a new clip each Sunday. To view all of the daily Advent meditations, visit www.formed.org
Virtual Posadas
Do your kids take Spanish in School? Are you of Spanish speaking heritage?
Jackie, from the Faith Formation Team, is a middle school Spanish teacher. Las Posadas is one of her favorite Christmas traditions from Mexico (and some other countries,too!)
It is a community recreation of the Journey of Mary and Joseph looking for a place to stay. Posada means “inn”. We know there was no room in the “inn”. Las Posadas is a celebration every night for 9 nights ( 9 representing the 9 months of Mary’s pregnancy). Every night includes songs and prayers and ends with a party!
From December 16-24, the Ignatian Solidarity Network is leading a daily virtual experience of music, art, prayer, reflection, and action as we journey with the holy family and migrants around the world in search of shelter and protection.
Busted Halo Advent Calendar
If you do nothing else to enter into the Advent Season this year, do the Busted Halo Advent Calendar. Each day there is a quote and a challenge. It is doable by even the busiest of people! Do this for yourself this Advent.
Have an extra 90 seconds to learn a little about Advent?
Have a little more time to dive into the Season. Watch any of these videos to just give yourself a little dose of faith formation on this beautiful season.
Advent: More Than a Chocolate Calendar
Advent: Dreaming Big
How is advent celebrated?
What is Advent?
The New Year in the Church begins with the season of Advent — a time to help us prepare for Christmas, when we celebrate the fulfillment of our longing for the Savior with the birth of Jesus. So, what is Advent? It’s the season that lasts about four weeks, beginning four Sundays before Christmas and ending on Christmas Eve.
Advent: More Than a Chocolate Calendar
Advent: Dreaming Big
How is advent celebrated?
What is Advent?
The New Year in the Church begins with the season of Advent — a time to help us prepare for Christmas, when we celebrate the fulfillment of our longing for the Savior with the birth of Jesus. So, what is Advent? It’s the season that lasts about four weeks, beginning four Sundays before Christmas and ending on Christmas Eve.