Advent & Christmas

"If we want to have the best Christmas ever, the most important thing of all is to make room in our hearts to receive Jesus."
More About the Meaning of Advent
Advent
Here are some ways you are invited to prepare your heart for the coming of Christ this Advent.
Opportunities for Spiritual Enrichment
  • Advent Calendar | USCCB: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) offers  an Advent Calendar that is action-oriented with daily activity and prayer suggestions to prepare you spiritually for the birth of Jesus Christ.
  • Prepare Your Heart | National Eucharistic Revival: ​Deepen your experience of Advent with weekly reflections on the Sunday readings from Bishop Andrew Cozzens. Just as the Magi wholeheartedly pursued the newborn King, we will spend this season drawing closer to our Eucharistic Lord and preparing to welcome him with joy.
  • Best Christmas Ever | Dynamic Catholic: Sign up for an inspirational video each day of Advent!
    • Guide to Catholic Advent: Dynamic Catholic has put a collection of Advent traditions that provide unique opportunities for us to prepare our hearts and minds for Jesus! ​
Adoration Chapel: "O Come Let Us Adore Him!"
The Wise Men came from afar to adore Christ. Will you come to adore him in Eucharistic Adoration? During the season of Advent, spending time in Our Lady of the Angels Adoration Chapel is a great way to be reminded of Christ’s incarnation and how he is truly present in the Eucharist. 
  • Our Lady of the Angels Adoration Chapel is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except when Mass is being celebrated. 
  • Angelus Prayer Sunday and Wednesday at Noon. The Angelus prayer is prayed aloud in our Adoration Chapel every Sunday and Wednesday at noon. This special prayer honoring Mary and her role as the Mother of God is prayed together by Christians every day around the world, including Pope Francis on Sundays.  Prayer cards in English and Spanish provided.
  • Children’s Adoration Hour Every Monday from 9-10 a.m. A special time for children and their parents to adore Christ through noise, movement, or any way they want!
Seniors' Christmas Luncheon: Saturday, December 7
Our beloved Saint Bonaventure senior citizens are invited to the Seniors' Christmas Luncheon. Let's start Advent by filling Ambrose Hall with Christmas cheer!
  • ​Saturday, December 7: Doors Open at 11:30 a.m., and lunch is at noon in Ambrose Hall in the Activities Building. 
  • Tickets are $5 and are available in the Parish Office starting November 25. You can also drop off money in an envelope marked with your name(s) and “Christmas Luncheon” in the collection, donation boxes, or in the black mailbox of the entryway, and tickets will be set aside for you. 
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Monday, December 9
  • Archbishop Hebda will be here to celebrate a Solemn Mass for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception with us at 6 p.m. on Monday, December 9. During Mass, Fr. James, Fr. Antony, Fr. Sojan, Fr. Edwin, and Fr. Jimmy will renew their religious vows in CFIC tradition. The Mass will be livestreamed on our YouTube page.
  • PLEASE NOTE: We will NOT have Mass at 8:45 a.m. on Monday, December 9.
CFIC Vow Renewal Tradition
Blessed Luigi Maria Monti founded the "Congregation of The Sons of the Immaculate Conception" (CFIC) in 1857. In his evangelical commitment, he was inspired by the example of the Holy Virgin and placed the Congregation he founded under the sign of Mary Immaculate." To manifest his devotion to the Immaculate Virgin, he wanted members of his religious order to renew their three evangelical councils (vows) of Chastity, Poverty, and Obedience when they celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception every year. Following the tradition, they joyfully honor our heavenly patroness on her Feast Day by renewing their vows during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. 
Breakfast with Santa: Saturday, December 14
Alive! is hosting Breakfast with Santa. Everyone is welcome to visit with Santa and enjoy a pancake breakfast. Children (12 and under) are invited to visit the Little Angels Gift Shop, Snowman Bakery, and Reindeer Craft Shop.​
  • Saturday, December 14 from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.  in the Activities Building. Tickets are required with two time slots available: 9 - 10 a.m. or 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
  • Sign up for tickets in the Gathering Space after each weekend Mass, November 23-24 and November 30 - December 1. Deadline for tickets is Sunday, December 8 at 5 p.m., so Santa's helpers can prepare for this event.
Advent Reconciliation: Sunday, December 15
As we prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas, this is an opportunity to join our sisters and brothers in asking for forgiveness and healing during this important time of the year.  
  • Sunday, December 15 at 4 p.m. in the church. Several priests will be available to hear individual confessions. ​
“Our faults and failings have a tendency to eat away at us inside, but great freedom is born from bringing our darkness into the light. While we hide our faults and failings, they grow larger and develop a power over us. I assure you, if you approach this sacrament with a sincere and humble heart, you will experience the flow of grace in your life.” - Matthew Kelly, Rediscover Catholicism
Giving Tree
Our Giving Tree is up and has gift suggestions to help our less fortunate neighbors this Christmas Season in the Gathering Space. Please take a tag (or two!) and return gifts and items with the tag attached by Sunday, December 15. 

You will find tags with ideas for residents of Hayden Grove Senior Living and Martin Luther Manor. These gifts are capped at $20-25. Please wrap these gifts and leave them next to the tree in the bin provided.
​
Our Giving Tree is also supporting these three Social Justice ministries:
  • Disabled American Veterans, helps veterans in many ways. Our gifts will be go to the group at the VA Medical Center.
  • Kennedy Community Alliance, helps students and their families through a pantry at the school where they can get personal hygiene products and Walmart gift cards for some of their other needs.
  • St. Vincent de Paul provides food and housing assistance to our neighbors in need.
Items for these ministries should be unwrapped. Place any financial gifts or gift cards into the collection or locked donation boxes. Financial gifts to St. Vincent de Paul should be made out to St. Vincent de Paul directly and placed in the envelopes provided. Place donation envelopes in the collection or in the locked donation boxes near Doors 5 and 2.
Faith Formation Christmas Program: "God Is With Us" - Wednesday, December 18
Come hear the joyous carols of the angels and shepherds. Everyone is invited to attend this special performance in the church as our Faith Formation students step into the roles of Mary, Joseph,  and the angel Gabriel to re-enact the Christmas story—reception to follow.
  • Wednesday, December 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the church​.
​Christmas Mass Schedule
One of the best ways we can prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord is by celebrating Mass. Here, we truly experience the coming of the Lord when He is present in His Word and He sustains us in the Eucharist.
Christmas Eve
  • Mass will be celebrated at 4:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Tuesday, December 24. ​​The 4:30 p.m. Mass will be livestreamed on our YouTube pages.​
Christmas Day
  • Mass will be celebrated at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Wednesday, December 25.
The Holy Family
  • ​Vigil Mass will be celebrated at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 28. This Mass will be livestreamed on our YouTube page.
  • Mass will be celebrated at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sunday, December 29.
Midnight Mass of New Year
  • Eucharistic Adoration with praise and worship music from 11 p.m. - 12 a.m. on Tuesday, December 31.
  • Mass will be celebrated at 12 a.m. on Wednesday, January 1 with hospitality to follow.
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
  • Mass will be celebrated at 8:45 a.m. on Wednesday, January 1.
    • Our Midnight Mass of New Year will be an anticipatory Mass and fulfill this Holy Day of Obligation.
Solemnity of the Epiphany of our Lord
  • Anticipatory Mass will be celebrated at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 4.​ This Mass will be livestreamed on our YouTube page.
  • Mass will be celebrated at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sunday, January 5.
​Christmas Schedule Changes:
  • No Morning Mass on Tuesday, December 24 or Saturday, December 28. Please join us for the Christmas Liturgies.​
  • No Reconciliation on Wednesday, December 25, Friday, December 26, and Wednesday, January 1. 
  • Parish Office will be CLOSED: Tuesday, December 24, Wednesday, December 25, and Wednesday, January 1. 
Saint Bonaventure Catholic Community
901 East 90th Street
Bloomington, MN 55420-3801
Phone: 952-854-4733
Email: [email protected]