Advent

Advent: a great season for families to grow, together

By Sr. Mary Jo Kirt

As winter demands us to spend time inside, we are blessed with the season of Advent. As the stores ring out with Christmas carols, it is a perfect season for families to bond together and live generously.

Each week will invite you to prepare for the great feast of Christmas and to see Jesus. My parents taught me that lesson.

	A d v e n t Time of Preparation

When I was a freshman in Oconto High School, I was invited on my first date, to a Christmas party. Dean was so "cool."  Like most girls, I told my parents I had nothing to wear.  They told me to go to Hurley's Dress Shop to find a dress and it would be my Christmas gift.

I found the perfect blue suit and ran home and told my parents. They asked the "parent" question: "How much is it?"  I choked out, "It is only $75." (This was over 50 years ago.)

They assured me that they did not have the money and that my mom would find a dress. A few days later, she hung a supremely ugly gray dress on my bedroom door and told me that this was my Christmas dance dress.

I did the "girl" thing, cried, stamped my feet and refused to be caught dead in it!!! The night of the dance came and there was no other dress. So I put the gray one on and went into the living room and asked my dad how I looked. "Terrible," he said.

For your dad to say this was the worst thing that could happen. I went to my room and sobbed. After what seemed like a thousand hours, I heard a knock on my door. It was my mom and dad and they had a box with the blue suit in it.

My dad hugged me and said, "We love you and want you to be beautiful. Merry Christmas, honey. Your mom will wear the gray dress."

Each year at Advent, we have the chance to say "thank you" and share the love we received. Please don't deny anyone the gift of love.

This first Sunday of Advent, dig out the old family crib set (or buy a simple one). Gather as a family and share what makes Christmas happy. Stress that it is in doing what Jesus did in giving love to all the people. Share a happy Christmas memory.

Make a plan to gather once a week and build the family Christmas scene.

• Week one: Place Mary out on a table where the crib will be.
  
  Pray for the mother in the family, grandmother and any ladies who are "mothers" to the family. Make plans to do something for a mother to honor Mary. End with a Hail Mary or play a Christmas song about Mary.
  
  
• Week two: Place Joseph next to Mary on the table. Pray for all the father figures that the family knows. Make plans to do something for a father or male friend of the family in honor of Joseph. You can make Dad's favorite cookies or candy for dinner, or visit a neighbor who lives alone. Pray the Our Father together.
  
  
• Week three: Set a shepherd and sheep near Mary and Joseph. Pray for neighbors who give hospitality and for family pets. Make plans to surprise neighbors with treats or a homemade ornament that tell them you are grateful for their love and friendship. Say the Peace Prayer of St. Francis.
  
  
• Week four: Set out the kings or queens around the Holy Family. Pray for relatives of the family, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, family friends. Make plans to send a card to them and have each family member write a short note of gratitude in them. Play a Christmas song about kings that shows how the visitors' love blessed the Holy Family.
  
  
• Christmas Eve: Put Baby Jesus in the crib. Play "Silent Night." Thank Jesus for being born so that we can live together in heaven forever.
  
  Turn to the people gathered around the crib and thank them for loving you as Jesus does.
  
  End with a sign of peace and plan how they are going to share peace on Christmas day as Jesus does every day.

(Sr. Mary Jo is a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross, Bay Settlement. She is parish director of Ss. Peter and Paul Parish, Hortonville, and diocesan representative for religious.)