We welcome you to experience Advent and Christmas liturgies at Holy Name of Jesus throughout the month of December. Advent is a time of spiritual preparation and there are many resources available to help you in your prayer! From FORMED.org or the Hallow App to making a commitment to daily Mass or an hour of Adoration – please check out the Advent Resources section on this page for more ideas.
Since the fourth Sunday of Advent falls on Dec. 24, what does that mean for Masses? Here's what Fr. Wratkowski says (taken from the December 2023 newsletter):
To prepare us, the Church gives us four Sundays of Advent where we give God the opportunity to form our hearts for His coming. This year, the Fourth Sunday of Advent falls on Dec. 24. Understandably, people wonder: Can I just go to one Christmas Eve Mass and have it “count” for both? The simple answer is “No.” There is an obligation to participate in two Masses: One for Christmas and one for the Fourth Sunday of Advent. To assist with this obligation, HNOJ will be offering three different Mass times for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, including two anticipatory Masses on Saturday evening Dec. 23 (at 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.) and one Sunday morning Dec. 24 (at 9 a.m.). Remember, though, this is more than fulfilling an obligation. It is about giving God the opportunity to prepare us to celebrate His coming. In doing so, we will dispose ourselves to experience the kind of celebration we truly desire, one that is marked by depth, peace and joy.
We look forward to celebrating with you!
Advent Season Schedule 2023
Advent Confessions
Saturdays 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Wednesdays at 5:15-6:15 p.m.
Please note: we will have several priests available for confession on Wednesday, Dec. 13, and Wednesday, Dec. 20.
Advent
First Sunday of Advent, Dec. 3
Second Sunday of Advent, Dec. 10
Third Sunday of Advent, Dec. 17
Fourth Sunday of Advent, Dec. 24
Masses for the Fourth Sunday of Advent
Saturday, Dec. 23, at 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 24, at 9 a.m.
Holy Day of Obligation
Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Thursday, Dec. 7, at 6 p.m. (vigil)
Friday, Dec. 8, at 8 a.m., 9:15 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Christmas Season Schedule
Christmas Liturgies
Sunday, Dec. 24
4 p.m. – two concurring liturgies
6 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 25
9:30 a.m.
Christmas Eve – Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023
4 p.m. Mass in the Church – School Choir with Handbell Choir (piano and organ)
4 p.m. Mass in the GSC– Sunday Evening Band (guitars, keyboard and drums)
6 p.m. Mass in the Church – Sunday Evening Band (guitars, keyboard and drums)
10 p.m. Mass in the Church – HNOJ Choir (string quartet, flute, oboe, timpani, piano, organ)
Christmas Day - Monday, Dec. 25
9:30 a.m. Mass in the Church – Contemporary Choir (piano and guitars)
Solemnity of the Holy Mother of God
Monday, Jan. 1, at 9:30 a.m.
Schedule Changes
School Christmas Break
Thursday, Dec. 21 – Tuesday, Jan. 2
Parish Offices Closed
Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 25-26
Monday, Jan. 1
Advent Resources
Below are Chris Kostelc's top recommendations for this season of Advent.
Hallow App - The Complete Guide to the Season of Advent: https://hallow.com/
Dynamic Catholic - Best Advent Ever: www.dynamiccatholic.com/advent/best-advent-ever.html
Word on Fire - Bishop Barron’s Daily Advent Reflections: https://www.wordonfire.org/reflections/advent
USCCB Advent Calendar - www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year-and-calendar/advent
FORMED Advent Calendar:
At FORMED.org you’ll find a seemingly endless list of engaging Catholic formation content. FORMED has video series, movies, talks, music and more for children, teens and adults too. FORMED is free for HNOJ parishioners and can be accessed online or via their app for all devices and smart TVs. Convenient, free and full of great content.
If you visit FORMED.org, you will grow in your faith, understand Catholicism better and feel greater confidence in living an authentic way of life! Honestly, Formed has so much material it can be overwhelming and difficult to know where to start. This Advent HNOJ has picked four pieces of Catholic content to unwrap each week of Advent. In other words, this is a FORMED Advent Calendar.
Advent First Week - Dec. 3-9
Advent with Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR
Spiritually preparing for Christmas can be really challenging. Fr. Augustino Torres, CFR helps us prepare for Christmas with great joy, delight and awe. (Fr. Torres is an amazing speaker and joyful human, at least give the intro video a try.)
https://watch.formed.org/prepare-your-heart-with-fr-agustino-torres-cfr
Introduction video (5 mins)
https://watch.formed.org/prepare-your-heart-with-fr-agustino-torres-cfr/videos/introduction-prepare-your-heart-advent-with-fr-augustino-torres-cfr
Advent Second Week - Dec. 10-16
Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Juan Diego
In the second week of Advent on Dec. 12, we celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. From the “Littlest Saints” series, we have a 15-minute video for our kids (and maybe ourselves as well). This short video tells the story of Juan Diego and his encounter with Mary.
https://watch.formed.org/videos/our-lady-of-guadalupe-littlest-saints
For a longer explanation of the feast check out this video (one hour) geared more to adult audiences.
https://watch.formed.org/videos/guadalupe-the-miracle-and-the-message
Advent Third Week - Dec. 17-23
Homeless But Human: Christ in the City
This powerful documentary captures the transformation of individuals living on the streets that the Christ in the City missionaries encounter and showcases a new approach to the rising crisis of homelessness. https://watch.formed.org/homeless-but-human-christ-in-the-city
Advent Fourth Week - Dec. 24
Prepare the Way of the King by Dr. Scott Hahn
Dr. Scott Hahn, one of the most eminent Catholic theologians in our country today, reveals in this 45-minute talk what scholars now know about the shepherds, the mysterious Magi and King Herod. Your Advent journey will take on new meaning as you prepare your heart for the birth of our Lord. This illuminating presentation is sure to help you grow in appreciation of the greatest gift ever given to mankind — Jesus Christ. Listen to Dr. Hahn’s talk while you are wrapping or prepping dinner as the fourth week of Advent is also Christmas Eve!
https://watch.formed.org/videos/prepare-the-way-of-the-king-by-dr-scott-hahn
Honorable mentions:
Rooted: Rediscover the Jesse Tree this Advent
This new 22-episode series guides Catholics through a daily Advent reflection using the Jesse Tree model traditionally practiced by families. Each seven-minute episode introduces the ancestors of Jesus Christ, shares a Scripture passage and offers an engaging, practical reflection. https://watch.formed.org/rooted
Catholic All Year - Christmas Eve Dinner!
If you’re into cooking shows or home decorating then “Catholic All Year” is for you. In this 20-minute video, Kendra Tierney cooks her favorite Christmas Eve meal and shows how she incorporates the Catholic faith in everyday moments with her children.
https://watch.formed.org/catholic-all-year-at-home-with-kendra-tierney/season:1/videos/catholic-all-year-christmas-eve