Advent in... U.S.A.

United to our Dominican Family and the spirit of the Dominican Month of Peace, Advent 2024 in Sabattus centers on “Let us commit to peace and human dignity,” praying for our world, and more particularly for Haiti.

At evening prayer, the materials received provide us with Scripture and song suggestions that help praise God and intercede for world peace.

Our Advent preparation for Christmas also means preparing Christmas for our Loaves & Fishes clients. In early November, families were asked to fill out a form explaining what they would need for their children. Donors are then given one of these forms and they purchase clothes, toys and school supplies. These gifts are wrapped by our volunteers, and families are called to pick them up to put under the Christmas tree. What a joy it is to see our front entrance filled with gifts, and to witness the grateful smiles on faces of donors and receivers! God comes to us in so many different ways.

In the parish, at Holy Cross Church, Advent is bittersweet. On the one hand, the beautiful songs for Advent animate our Liturgies with a spirit of hope, gratitude and joyful expectation; the banners and well positioned Advent wreath create a spirit of reverence and prayer. On the other hand, parishioners know that this is the last Advent to be celebrated in this church. This fall, the committee studying the viability of our parish had to make the difficult decision to close two of the churches that make up our Prince of Peace Parish, and Holy Cross is one church that will close.

Last Sunday, we participated in the parish Christmas gathering. There we shared a festive meal prepared by parishioners, sang carols together and treated the children to gifts after they had performed a Christmas play which was delightful!

Sr Jacqueline Provencher
Sabattus, Maine (U.S.A.)

In Klagetoh (Arizona), our Advent preparation varies since many people are involved.</p

First of all, our new Brother of the Sacred Heart from Zimbabwe has led a retreat day at the end of November at the church in Ganado. The “Hope and Waiting” theme had people getting in the spirit of the season.</p

We have had a number of benefactors reaching out to the poor of the area:
▪ Girl Scouts from California sent gift bags for children of various ages (about 125 for girls and 100 for boys).
▪ Southwest Indian Foundation has sent 25 food boxes to be distributed.
▪ A parish in Phoenix adopted 21 families and filled out their wish lists for the holidays.
▪ People in Payson have sent loads of furniture, clothes, kitchen items, shoes, blankets and towels as well as tools to help the needy.
▪ We continue to provide food boxes for those less fortunate. People come or we go out to deliver...

Father is making himself available to hear confessions. (We must remember that he has to drive 1 hour to get here.)

We pray together (staff at the Mission), share, and wait in joyful anticipation.

Sr. Monica Dubois
St. Anne Mission
Chambers, Arizona (U.S.A.)

Project with Lay Dominicans
The Vicariate, through a financial contribution, collaborated with lay Dominicans in Maine on a project to offer the Catholic community in the area a booklet of reflections for each day of Advent. Authors of the reflections, including Sisters Therese and Jacqueline, submitted their text to a small group of readers. The corrected texts were then collected and published in the form of a booklet, 1,000 copies were distributed to different parishioners and friends. Many people have expressed their appreciation for this help in living out this Advent Season.

In Chicago, one of the wonderful events during Advent is the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12th). This year the festivities began with Mass at 7:00 am, with Aztec and ballet folklorico dancers, mariachis, and a re-enactment of the miracle in a packed gym. A breakfast was served afterwards (tamales, pan dulce and champurrado) with everyone—especially alums, former teachers, corporate folks, and neighbors. This is a wonderful way to gather the Cristo Rey Hispanic community for the holidays.

In Staten Island, New York, Advent this year centers on the Sacrament of Reconciliation, with both the Diocese of Brooklyn and the Archdiocese of New York making Monday a Reconciliation day for all those who would like to receive the sacrament.

The Sisters of the Vicariate of the United States