Life

Advent calendar puts family at heart of Christmas

ADVENT, the season which anticipates Christmas and marks the beginning of the Church's year, begins this Sunday, December 3.

As is becoming traditional, the Catholic Church has developed an online Advent calendar to guide prayer and reflection to put Christ at the centre of Christmas preparations.

This year's calendar is focused on the family in the build up to the World Meeting of Families in Dublin next August.

There will be family prayers and suggestions for acts of kindness or charity that family members will be encouraged to take on during the month of December.

"Pope Francis has described the family as the first school, the nearest hospital and the best place to grow old," said Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin.

"The season of Advent offers all of us a period of time out to reflect on the gifts of our families and what they offer to us in our parishes, schools and in society.

"As Advent is the season of preparation for the coming of our Lord, I encourage the faithful, notwithstanding our hectic schedule over the coming weeks, to make time to pray - alone, and with their family - and by so doing to draw nearer to Christ."

  • The calendar can be accessed from Sunday December 3 here and here.