Advent marks the beginning of the liturgical calendar. It consists of the four weeks leading up to Christmas and begins four Sundays prior to Christmas. During the Advent season the priest wears purple. On the third Sunday of Advent the priest wears rose for Gaudate Sunday, which means "rejoice." 

An Advent wreath is a traditional devotional during this season. You will see a larege one in the Church and you may have a small one in your home. Each Sunday we light a candle and say a prayer. There are three purple candles, and one pink one for each Sunday of Advent. The wreath is evergreen, which never dies, just as God is eternal. The wreath is the shape of a circle which has no begining or end, just as God has no beginning or end. When lighting candles, begin witht he first purple one, opposite the pink, then each consectuive week, light an additional one going clockwise so that by the third week you are lighting the rose candle. 

Learn more about Advent here.

In the Catholic Church, Christmas is more than one day – it is a season that begins on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24).  The Christmas season includes Feast of the Epiphany  the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. Christmastide concludes with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord in January.

During the Christmas season the priest will wear a white chasuble. 

The forty days of Lent is reminiscent of Jesus’ forty days in the desert. Lent is a season of repentance and renewal in solidarity with those preparing for the Sacraments of Initiation to be received at Easter. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and continues until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday.

Lent is marked by three pillars: fasting, alsmgiving and prayer. We fast from meat on on Fridays. We fast in between meals on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. And it is good practice to give something up for the entierety of Lent as a means of prayer, and practing self-control. 

We are encouraged during Lent to reflect on how we can be Christ to the oppressed, marginalized, and poor. 

We are also encouraged to do a little something extra in our pray life so that we can grow closer to God in the weeks leading up to Easter.

To learn more about Lent, click here.

During Lent the priest will wear a purple chasuble.

Holy Week is the week before Easter and begins on Palm Sunday. 

The Triduum is the most important three days in the liturgical year. Holy Thursday (which commemorates the Last Supper), Good Friday (which commemorates Jesus’ crucifixion and death on the cross), and Holy Saturday (where the Church pauses to commemorate the Lord’s burial). The Easter Vigil is celebrated on Holy Saturday night when new members of the faith receive the Sacraments of Initiation and are welcomed into the Church.

Alleluia – He is Risen! The Easter season celebrates Christ’s resurrection from the dead, his victory over death. Christ’s Ascension into heaven is celebrated on the 7th Sunday after Easter. Eastertide concludes at Pentecost, where Jesus sends the Holy Spirit upon the apostles to spread the Gospel to all nations. We celebrate Easter for 50 days!

During the Easter season the priest will wear a white chasuble.

The season of Ordinary Time explores Christ’s mission and message through the Gospels. This season includes Trinity Sunday (which celebrates God’s self revelation as a Trinity of Persons) and Corpus Christi (which celebrates the Body and Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist). Ordinary Time concludes with the Solemnity of Christ the King which brings the liturgical year to a close.

During Ordinary time, the priest wears a green chasuble.