Join our Family of Five Parishes for a season of hope and anticipation as we await and then celebrate the birth of our Lord. Advent can be such a beautiful, prayerful season that can help us slow down and focus on Jesus. Looking for ideas? A few recommended by our staff:
For adults:
Advent Reflections from Bishop Barron
Busted Halo Advent Calendar
Best Advent Ever with Matthew Kelly
Advent Made Simple
Advent Wreath Reflections
The Catholic Herald’s Guide to Advent
For families and kids:
Advent Wreath
Holy Heroes Advent Adventure
Jesse Tree
Below you will find prayer, service, and community opportunities in our Family of Five Parishes during the Advent and Christmas Season. Click on the title links to get more details about each item.
Christmas Masses
The Christmas Mass schedule will be published on the Mass Times page.
Little Blue Books
We ordered a limited amount of Little Blue Advent books that are in the back of all of our churches. These books offer a 6-minute reflection for each day of Advent. If there are none left, check out littlebooks.org. You can order individual books for $5.00 each, purchase it as an e-book, or subscribe to the app.
Advent Giving Tree
Return gifts by December 17
Our Advent Giving Tree will be supporting the ministries of Women’s Care Center, Open Door Café/Prison Ministry, and St. Vincent de Paul. You can read about each of these ministries and their Wish Lists on the attached flyer. After purchasing your gift, please cut off and tape a “tag” from the flyer onto your UNWRAPPED gift and return it to the Advent Giving Tree at any mass by December 16-17.
St. Anne Society Christmas Fair
The St. Anne Society continues the tradition of our annual Christmas Fair and Bake Sale. Come enjoy a festive time with your parish community! Mark your calendars and plan to attend on December 2 and 3 after all Masses in the Parish Center. There will be the usual wonderful baked goodies, and opportunities to win a raffle gift just in time for Christmas.
Eat, Drink & Be Catholic
Eat, Drink and Be Catholic offers women and men of all ages a casual opportunity to explore the Catholic faith. We hope to provide space for intellectual, relational and spiritual growth as well as some real community building. Our hope is that at the end of each evening, individuals not only know more but are inspired and empowered to live out their faith. Our next event will be on Wednesday, December 6, beginning at 7:00 pm. To RSVP or to be added to the email list for future events, contact Chad Griesel at cgriesel@ffpmke.org.
Holiday Plant Delivery
We deliver holiday plants to parishioners who are homebound or living in healthcare facilities. If you are interested, please join us on Saturday, December 9 to help deliver 200 plants and visit with parishioners who continue to be a vital part of our parish community. Many volunteers are needed! We are asking volunteers to also bring the Eucharist with the plants to our parishioners. If you have never done this before, do not fear! A short formational training will be done before you depart for your visits. Pyx cases and prayer cards will also be provided for you. On Saturday, December 9, all volunteers will meet at 8:30 am in the Old St. Mary Parish Center (835 N Milwaukee St). Please feel free to use the parking lot.
To volunteer and/or verify that a nursing home or homebound parishioner is on the delivery list, please contact Terri Balash at 414-469-6173 or tbalash@ffpmke.org.
Nativity Play
All children, toddlers to middle/high schoolers, are warmly invited to take part in the Family of Five Parishes’ Christmas Nativity Play on December 9 at Three Holy Women-St. Rita Church. Roles include shepherds, sheep, angels, Mary, Joseph, Wise Men, and narrator. Rehearsal is 2:00 – 3:15 pm, followed by crafts/snack break 3:15 – 4:00 pm, and performance at 4:00 pm. Contact LaTanya Bacon at lbacon@ffpmke.org or call 414-962-2443 to sign up.
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Join us in celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Cathedral! This year there will be a Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe beginning December 3. See the attached flyer for the schedule. We will have a bilingual rosary, holy hour and Mañanitas on Monday, December 11 beginning at 11:15 pm. On Tuesday, December 12, we will celebrate with traditional native dances at 6:40 pm, bilingual Mass at 7:00 pm, followed by a celebration in the Cathedral Atrium. We hope to see you there!
Catholic East Elementary Christmas Concert
December 15, 6:00 pm, Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
Communal Reconciliation
Is there a past sin or mistake weighing you down? Do you feel a need to begin again in some area of your life? Come and experience the healing power of the Sacrament of Reconciliation as we prepare our hearts for Christmas. Our Advent Reconciliation Service will take place on Saturday, December 16 at 10:00 am at Three Holy Women-St. Hedwig Church. Priests will be hearing individual confessions at the end of the prayer service.
Advent Vespers Service
All are invited to a bilingual Advent Vespers Service at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist on Sunday, December 17 at 4:00 pm as we anticipate with joy the coming of our Savior in the flesh on Christmas Day.
Advent Holy Hour
We invite you to prepare your heart to meet Christ, the Lord of Life, by scheduling some time for quiet prayer in Adoration, taking the time to quietly gaze upon the Blessed Sacrament. Join us on Tuesday, December 19 from 6:00 – 7:00 pm at SS Peter & Paul Parish for an Advent Holy Hour.
Advent Taizé Prayer
Join us again this year for our Advent Taizé Service on Wednesday, December 20 at 6:30 pm at SS Peter & Paul Church. Taizé Prayer is reflective using simple songs, scripture, silence and a beautiful prayerful environment to help us pray. The service lasts about 45 minutes and is a great place to find solace in the busy month of December.