Advent Liturgy Schedule
Sundays & Solemnities
11.30.25 | First Sunday of Advent
12.7.25 | Second Sunday of Advent
12.8.25 | Immaculate Conception
8:00 AM at St. James
Noon at St. James
7:00 PM at St. Elizabeth Seton
12.14.25 | Third Sunday of Advent
12.21.25 | Fourth Sunday of Advent
Daily Mass
Monday | 8:30 AM at St. Elizabeth Seton
Tuesday | 8:00 AM at St. James
Thursday | 8:00 AM at St. James
Friday | 8:30 AM at St. Elizabeth Seton
***No Mass December 2-5 Due to Annual Priest Convocation***
Advent Prayer, Devotions & Celebrations
Evening Prayer
Monday — Friday
5:00 PM | streamed on Facebook
CHRISTMAs Pageant
12.13.25
5:00 PM | St. James Parish Center
following 4:00 PM Mass
Light refreshments will be served.
Adoration
First Thursdays
8:30 - 9:30 AM | St. James
Every Thursday
3:00 PM | St. James
Rosary
Saturdays
3:20 PM | St. James
Tuesday & Thursday
8:30 AM | St. James
Reconciliation
Monday | 12.15.25 | 5:30 PM | St. Elizabeth Seton
Thursday | 12.18.25 | 2:00 PM | St. James
Monday | 12.22.25 | 5:30 PM | St. Elizabeth Seton
Advent evening of reflection
for Young Adult Women
12.17.25
7:00 PM | St. Elizabeth Seton
Advent & Christmas Carols
12.14.25
4:00 PM | St. James
Caroling caravan
12.21.25
3:00 PM | Meet at St. James
Caravan in small groups to the homebound
Advent Giving Opportunities
The Christmas tree symbolizes the spirit and joy of Christmas. The "Giving Trees" are back again this year, seeking to share holiday joy with a number of agencies in need.
Here is a sampling of the organizations and needs:
Residents at Apple Rehab in Rocky Hill: These wonderful men and women have a simple Christmas wish of a new shirt or sweatshirt to help them feel loved and warm this winter. We are collecting Men’s and Women’s Sizes: Medium through 3X.
Solnit Center for Teens in Middletown: would love new colorful socks for women size 9 to 11, men’s socks too, crocs and jibbitz for crocs, stress balls, Lego kits age 12 -18, $10 gift cards Walmart & Dollar Tree.
Friendship Center in New Britain: Families in need asking for PJ’s men, women & children, squishmallows, batman toys, Disney princess, Walmart gift cards.
ImmaCare Homeless Shelter: White socks & $5.00 McDonald’s gift cards.
Retired Missionary Priests & Brothers at Holy Apostle in Cromwell: Gift cards to West Side Market.
New Horizons Family Violence Services & Healthcare for the Homeless Programs: The needs are endless! Women’s PJ’s size M through XXL, winter hats & gloves, children’s hat & glove sets, twin sheet sets, towels, washcloths, laundry detergent, gift cards to CVS & Walmart.
Your generosity makes a difference! Stay tuned for more details when the Giving Trees go up and thank you for helping us wrap our community in God’s love this Advent and Christmas.
All gifts should be returned unwrapped to either church no later than Sunday, December 14, 2025. Please tape the gift tag to the unwrapped gift to assist us with organizing and distributing the collected items.
Our parish Outreach Ministry has offered to coordinate our parish donations on their behalf. Donations can be dropped off in designated boxes at either church location:
St. James Church: Father Shea Hall, Mon - Fri (9:00 AM - 1:00 PM) or before the masses at 4:00 or 11:00.
St. Elizabeth Seton Church: Bins located near the kitchen, Mon - Fri (9:00 AM - 1:00 PM) or before the Sunday mass at 9:00.
Advent Traditions
Prepare An Advent Wreath
One of the best known customs for keeping the season of Advent in our homes is the Advent wreath. The wreath is a circular and made of evergreens symbolizing the eternity of God. Christians use the wreath as a sign of great hope that Christ reaches into our time to lead us to the light of everlasting life. The four candles on the wreath mark the progress of the fours weeks of Advent and the growth of light. Get your Advent wreath ready (or make a new one this year) so that we can mark our journey through Advent together, both at Church and in our homes. To learn more about the Advent Wreath and find a blessing prayer, Click Here.
Set Up A Nativity Scene
The practice of setting up a nativity scene begins in Advent and continues through the Twelve Days of Christmas until the Celebration of the Epiphany on January 6. Saint Francis of Assisi began the custom of the nativity scenes when he celebrated Christmas with his brothers at Greccio in 1223 with a Bethlehem scene which included live animals. This tradition quickly spread and people began to construct their own nativity scenes in their homes, churches, schools and public spaces. You might set up your entire scene leaving the crib empty for the Christ Child to arrive on Christmas Eve. Or set up the scene slowly, placing the figures far from the scene and moving them closer day by day. The three kings arrive on Epiphany bearing gifts for the child Jesus. For a simple blessing of your nativity scene, Click Here.
Bless Your Christmas Tree
One of the best known customs for keeping the season of Advent in our homes is the Christmas Tree. The tradition hearkens all the way back to St. Boniface (680–754), the Apostle to the Germans. Pointing to a great tree one Christmas eve, he implored his fellow citizens with this message: “This little tree, a young child of the forest, shall be your holy tree tonight. It is the wood of peace… It is the sign of an endless life, for its leaves are ever green. See how it points upward to heaven. Let this be called the tree of the Christ-child; gather about it, not in the wild wood, but in your own homes; there it will shelter no deeds of blood, but loving gifts and rites of kindness.” Prepare your own tree with this spirit and make a point of blessing it as a household this week. You can find a lovely blessing prayer, Click Here.
Create a jesse tree
The Jesse tree is an Advent custom that helps us connect the festive practice of decorating Christmas trees to Jesus’ biblical ancestors. Its name is derived from Isaiah 11:1, “A shoot shall come out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.” Jesse, the father of King David, is often looked upon as the first person in the genealogy of Jesus. To create a Jesse tree at home, start with a bare branch and hang a new ornament every day. These ornaments represent the individual figures from the Bible. They can be made from any material you choose. Here is a great resource to get you started, Click Here.