HAPPY NEW (CHURCH) YEAR! WAYS TO ENGAGE IN ADVENT
Advent is such a wonderful part of the liturgical year. The only downside is that it can sneak up on us and then fly by so quickly!
This year, I invite you to connect with Advent through reading and activities to truly experience the hope and joy of this rich season as we restart the Church calendar.
Here are a few suggestions.
Read: Feed your heart with some great Advent writing
- Word Made Flesh: Daily Reflections for Advent 2026, by Glen Argan, gives you the opportunity for a few moments of quiet reflection and prayer during this busy time of year. Perfect with your morning coffee, just before bed, or anytime in between.
- Pilgrim Year: Advent, by Winnipeg folksinger-songwriter Steve Bell, leads us through the season with original reflections, poetry and music. (You might want to have Pilgrim Year: Christmas, Pilgrim Year: Epiphany and Steve’s Christmas CD The Feast of Seasons on hand for later.)
- Find inspiration in selections from the writings of beloved spiritual writer Henri Nouwen through Steve Givens’ book O Come, O Come, Emmanuel: Advent Devotions.
- Reflect with the Irish Jesuits with the book Sacred Space for Advent and the Christmas Season 2026–27, a guided prayer resource based on their multilingual website sacredspace.com.
- Explore various biblical texts and reflect on God’s grace with theologian Cardinal Walter Kasper in Accepting the Mystery: Scriptural Reflections for Advent and Christmas.
Do: Make Advent visible in your home
- A Catholic Family Advent: Prayers and Activities, by Susan Hines-Brigger, is a good place to start: it includes opportunities for families to pause, pray and do a simple activity together.
- You’ve heard of the all-seeing Elf on the Shelf; now meet The Manger on the Mantel, by David Mead! This book for young children on what happened on the first Christmas contains a small, easy-to-assemble manger scene to display throughout Advent.
- Set up an Advent wreath and light it every evening to mark each week. All you need are four candles (three purple and one pink), a fresh or faux evergreen wreath or this gold brass wreath, and some prayers for the lighting, such as Lisa M. Hendey’s 5-Minute Prayers Around the Advent Wreath.
- Put up an Advent calendar – such as Look Around the Stable, Time for a Savior, or Get Ready for Jesus! – to help kids and the young at heart prepare for Christmas one day at a time.
- Set up a nativity scene and add the figures gradually during Advent. This will become a treasured family tradition over the years!
These are just a few possibilities – to explore others, visit en.novalis.ca and search for “Advent.” You’ll find many books and resources for all ages, Advent-themed tree ornaments, prayer cards and more.
Wishing you a wonderful Advent!
Anne Louise Mahoney is managing editor of Novalis. She is the editor of several books, including Pocket Book of Hope, and is the author of I Hope, I Am and I Trust, part of the Seeds of Faith series for young children.
