Day 1: Sunday 3 December 2023

We are delighted to welcome you to this year’s digital Advent Calendar!  Now in its tenth year, our themes for Advent 2022 is: #Peace on Earth and #Year of Vocations
During the 22 days of Advent, new content will be available each day behind the calendar’s doors. 

Advent message from Archbishop Francis Duffy, Archbishop of Tuam

 

Season of Advent

Today is the First Sunday of Advent.  Advent is the four-week season before Christmas during which we prepare for the coming of Christ.  The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming”.  The season of Advent is a time of waiting, conversion and of hope, which has a twofold character as:

  • A time of preparation for the Solemnities of the Christmas season, in which the first coming of the Son of God to humanity is remembered; and,
  • A time when – by remembrance of this – our minds and hearts look forward to the Second Coming of Christ at the end of time.

For these two reasons, Advent is a period of devout and expectant delight.

Our digital Advent calendar is a helpful resource for our ‘journey’ towards Christmas.  Each day, by clicking on a virtual door, we are inviting you to take a few minutes to avail of our resources to rediscover the true meaning of Advent and Christmas.

Advent Prayers

Our Prayer Intention for the Day to Pray Together 

May this season of Advent be a time of growth in faith
for all Christ’s followers, and may the Church,
through her teaching and her compassion,
point the way to the Saviour.
We ask this though Christ, Our Lord.
Amen

An Advent Prayer
Father, in the wilderness of the Jordan,
you sent a messenger to prepare people’s hearts
for the coming of your Son.
Help me to hear his words and repent of my sins,
so that I may clearly see the way to walk,
the truth to speak,
and the life to live for him,
Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen

Kids’ Corner!

Children’s Prayer on first Sunday of Advent
Let us ask our Father in heaven to fill our hearts with grace. On the First Sunday of Advent, we light THE CANDLE OF HOPE. We have hope because God is ever faithful and will keep the promises made to us. Our HOPE comes from God.

Advent Activities
Each day of Advent you will find fun activities for children to enjoy and learn more about the Season of Advent.  Print out this Advent calendar and colour it in!

To print: click on the link below to open a new page, then select “print”

Kids Advent Calendar to color in