1. Sunday, December 14, 2025 (3rd Sunday of Advent)

 

Take a minute to consciously acknowledge that you are in the presence of God and ask him to help you to hear the Word he wants you to hear this week.

 

Here’s a link to Sunday, December 14th’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121425.cfm

 

Jesus tells John the Baptist of the signs of the kingdom that are being worked through him and praises John as more than a prophet.

 

Read together this Gospel, Matthew 11:2-11 and discuss the following questions together.

1. Has your understanding of God changed over the years?

2. What makes it easy to believe in Jesus?

3. What makes it hard to believe in Jesus?

4. John seems to have experienced some doubt about Jesus when he was arrested for his preaching. What evidence does Jesus give that he is in fact the long-awaited Messiah?

5. What would it be like to witness a blind person regain their sight or a lame person walk?

6. Jesus praises the work that John has done in preparing the way for him. What is something that Jesus praises you for?

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* Liturgy Link

The third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday often symbolized with the color rose or pink. 

Where do you see this color at your parish today?

 

* Family Challenge

Invite someone to go to Christmas Mass with you. Ask now so that you can plan when to go together.

 

End in Prayer

 

Glorious St. Rose

As we journey through Advent, pray this prayer, calling on the intercession of St. Rose of Lima.

Glorious St. Rose of Lima,
you who knew what it was to love Jesus
with such a fine and generous heart.
You, whom since infancy,
despised the world's vanities in order to embrace His Cross.
You who loved, with unfailing devotion,
our Heavenly Mother
and professed a great tender dedication to the destitute,
serving them the same way Jesus did.
Teach us to imitate your greatest virtues,
so that we, following your example,
can enjoy your glorious protection in Heaven.
For Our Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns forever.

Amen.

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2. Blessing the Family Christmas Tree and Ornaments

 

It wasn’t until the sixteenth century in Germany that trees were brought inside and decorated.

 

1. Read and watch this information about History of the Christmas Trees:  https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas-trees

 

1. Gather together as a family and bless the Christmas tree and the ornaments…You will need water or holy water (if available) to celebrate this blessing.

2. Have each family member choose a favorite ornament and hold it. 

 

Leader: Loving God, we stand before you once again. We stand here ready to celebrate the birth of your son, Jesus.

(Sprinkle water or holy water on the tree while praying the following prayer.)

 

Leader: God, we ask you to bless these ornaments. Each one of these represents a thread in the tapestry  of our family’s life together and bless this tree, this sign of life and freshness and perseverance in our midst. It stands as a reminder that you are born anew in us each day. We gather today to be mindful of how you have been present with us through all our days. We know that you are present with us now as our family story continues to unfold. Bless our family and friends as we celebrate this joyous season. Help us to see one another as precious and dear, to treat one another with tenderness and care, and to enjoy and celebrate the joy that each one of us brings to the family. Keep us safe in our travels and gracious in our giving and receiving. We ask you this in a spirit of memory and celebration.   Amen

 

4. After the blessing, take time to share stories connected to some favorite ornaments.

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5. Sing or listen to your favorite Christmas carol.

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3. Sunday, December 21, 2025 (4th Sunday in Advent)

 

Take a minute to consciously acknowledge that you are in the presence of God and ask him to help you to hear the Word he wants you to hear this week.

 

Here’s a link to Sunday, December 21st’s  readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122125.cfm

An angel appears to Joseph, directing him to take Mary as his wife and telling him that the child she will bear will be called Emmanuel.

 

Read together this Gospel, Matthew 1:18-24 and discuss the following questions together.

1. What do you admire about Joseph?

2. Could you have done what Joseph did?

3. Has your trust in God ever compelled you to act in a way that startled or even disturbed other people?

4. Joseph trusted in God's plan for him and for Mary. What do you think is God's plan for your life?

5. Do you think Joseph was nervous to be Jesus' earthly father? Why or why not?

 

*  Liturgy Link

Jesus took flesh in Mary's womb. What action do we do during the Creed to give honor to this?

 

*  Family Fun

 

Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses

 

In today's Gospel, Joseph takes Mary into his home. Take some time today to make a gingerbread home.

Either buy a kit from the store or make your own using graham crackers, vanilla frosting, and candy, build and decorate a family gingerbread house. Put a thin layer of frosting on the base (i.e., plate, piece of cardboard, etc.) for the house to stick. Need some architectural help? Use a small milk carton to hold up the graham crackers. Use frosting to stick the graham crackers to the sides of the carton. Decorate with candy, using a small dab of frosting to hold the candy in place. Consider dying the frosting with food coloring if you want to add some more decorative touches.

 

*  Fun Facts

The largest edible gingerbread house was in Bryan, Texas in 2013. It was almost the size of a tennis court and was 21 feet high.

 

End in Prayer

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The Divine Praises

The Divine Praises praise not only God, but the entire Holy Family. Have one person read the line, and everyone else repeats it.

Blessed be God.
Blessed be his holy name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
Blessed be the name of Jesus.
Blessed be his most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be his most precious Blood.
Blessed be Jesus in the most holy sacrament of the altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in his angels and in his saints.

Amen.

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4. Living the Christmas Season: The Christmas Octave December 25-January 12

 

Let’s make the most of the extra “together” time with our families over Christmas break—and beyond—to ponder, to share, to celebrate the Good News of the Christ-Child! Whether looking to enrich existing family traditions or try some new ones, here are a few ideas to get you celebrating all through this Christmas Season

 

The Christmas Octave: December 25-January 1

Christmas and Easter memorialize such profound actions of God, that the Church gives a whole octave (the feast, plus 7 days) to ponder and to glorify God. Take this week to relish “God with us” in the manger and in your loved ones. Make each day special. 

• Keep decorations up (at least until Jan. 9) and light candles at all octave dinners.  

• Watch a Christmas movie.  

• Sing carols with just tree-lights/candles. 

• Plan some family fun: excursions or game nightsWas there some Christmas activity/ baking/service project you didn’t get to before Christmas? Why not do it now?! 

• Visit or Face-Time a different relative/friend each day.  

• Take turns being in charge of a daily “surprise” each day of the octave: a fun mealtime conversation topic, your own “family trivia,” a new appetizer/snack, a Christmas song with adapted lyrics, a craft, a photo album you haven’t looked at for a while. Think cost-free. . . just simple, family fun!  

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Feast of St. Stephen: December 26 

• Read/watch this information about St. Stephen: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-stephen/

• Read St. Stephen’s story in Acts 6-7  

• Sing “Good King Wenceslaus,“ a story set on this day  

• Also called Boxing Day, maybe because employers used to give their household staff this day off, with a “Christmas box” to enjoy. Who might you thank with a Christmas box: your pastor, mailman, doctor?

 

Feast of the Holy Family: December 29

• Read this day’s Mass readings as a family and discuss them. Pray for your immediate and extended family in a special way.  

• Take turns affirming the good qualities/talents of each family member and pray a personalized blessing over them. Write thank you notes to each other.  

• Using the letters of your last name, come up with an acronym that represents your family and post it somewhere for the day.  

 

Pray a Christmas Rosary

• Meditate on the mysteries of the Christmas story. Sing a related carol as you begin each decade.  

1. Mary & Joseph Travel to Bethlehem  

2. Jesus is Born  

3. Angels Appear to the Shepherds  

4. The Shepherds Worship Jesus & Go Home Rejoicing, Telling Others of Christ  

5. The 3 Wisemen Seek Jesus, Give Him Homage & Present Gifts

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Feast of the Baptism of the Lord: January 12

• Thank God for the gift of Baptism. Reflect on the day’s Gospel reading together.  

• Write all your family’s Baptismal anniversaries into your 2025 calendar and plan to celebrate them in some way.  

• Look at photos/videos, gowns, mementos of each family member’s Baptism. 

• Call or write to godparents, thanking them for their support on the journey of faith. 

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