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Advent
Advent is the season of waiting and preparation, when the Church slows down to watch, hope, and make room for Christ. It recalls Israel’s longing for the Messiah and invites us to prepare our hearts for Jesus’ coming at Christmas—and for His return at the end of time. Through prayer, Scripture, and quiet anticipation, Advent teaches us to live in hope and trust in God’s promises.
Lighting an Advent wreath is a time-honored custom in the Church.
Traditionally, Advent wreaths are constructed of a circle of evergreen branches into which four candles are inserted, representing the four weeks of Advent. Ideally, three candles are purple and one is rose, but white candles can also be used.
The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord’s first coming into the world and the anticipation of his second coming to judge the living and the dead.
The purple candles in particular symbolize the prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices and goods works undertaken at this time.
The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday when the priest also wears rose vestments at Mass.
Gaudete Sunday is the Sunday of rejoicing because the faithful have arrived at the midpoint of Advent when their preparation is now half over and they are close to Christmas.
Sponsor a disadvantaged family
Your parish might host an Angel Tree, a program which supports local families in need of assistance for the holidays this year. Call your parish and ask how you can help sponsor a a family in your community. Also, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston seeks Angel Sponsors to assist with its "Share Your Blessings" program by providing items such as clothing, blankets, and toiletries for disadvantaged families and toys for the children of these families. In years' past, more than 3,000 were served through this program.
To learn more visit, Catholic Charities' website or call 713-874-6727.
Countdown to Christmas
Using an Advent calendar – a special calendar with "windows" that can be opened for the 24 days before Christmas – is another way to mentally gear up for Dec. 25.
By patiently opening the windows one day at a time, you build up to Christmas as a joyous feast. Visit the U.S. Bishops' Advent website for a printable Advent calendar.
Help others
Advent is an opportune period to offer service to friends, neighbors, and strangers as recognition of Christ's coming to us through our brothers and sisters.
Contact Catholic Charities, San Jose Clinic, or your local chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for Archdiocesan opportunities to help those in need this season.
Don't forget: the celebrations keep going after Dec. 25.
Although the world may quickly tire of carols and lights after Dec. 25, the Church has only begun to celebrate the great mystery of God with us – Emmanuel. The days after Christmas offer a chance to relish the feasts of St. Stephen, the Holy Innocents, the Holy Family, the Solemnity of Mary, Epiphany, and the Baptism of the Lord.
Spending time with the Scriptures from Advent until the end of the Christmas season calls us to set our hearts on the things that really matter, the things that really last.
Advent Resources
Blessing of an Advent Wreath at Home (PDF) - Office of Worship
Commentary on the Proper Prayers of Advent from the Roman Missal
Beginning the Church’s liturgical year, the Advent season is a time of preparation that directs the hearts and minds of the faithful to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and to the anniversary of Jesus’ birth on Christmas. From the earliest days of the Church, people have been fascinated by Jesus’ promise to come back. But the Scripture readings during Advent say not to waste time with predictions. Advent is not about speculation.
The Advent readings call the Church to be alert and ready, not weighted down and distracted by the cares of this world (Lk 21:34-36). Like Lent, the liturgical color for Advent is purple since both are seasons that prepare for great feast days. Advent also includes an element of penance in the sense of preparing, quieting and disciplining hearts for the full joy of Christmas.
Ahead of Christmas, parishioners will notice some differences at Mass. For instance, the priest wears violet or purple during Advent, except for the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) when rose may be worn. Aside from what the priest wears, other aesthetic changes in the Church can include a decorated church and altar.
Lent
Lent is a forty-day season of repentance and renewal that prepares us for the celebration of Easter. Through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, the Church calls us to turn away from sin and return more fully to God. Lent is not about self-denial for its own sake, but about allowing God to reshape our hearts and lead us to new life in Christ.
Prayer. Fasting. Almsgiving.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and lasts until Holy Thursday, April 2, 2026.
Ash Wednesday is a universal day of fasting and abstinence in the Catholic Church.
According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the imposition of ashes on foreheads “symbolizes our dependence upon God's mercy and forgiveness.”
In preparation for these 40 days that will lead us to renew and embrace our baptismal commitment, we offer these ideas for prayer, fasting and almsgiving during Lent. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence.
Guidelines
Roman Catholics must fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Additionally, they must abstain from meat on all Fridays during Lent.
As outlined by the U.S. Bishops' conference, “fasting is obligatory for all who have completed their 18th year and have not yet reached their 60th year. Fasting allows a person to eat one full meal. Two smaller meals may be taken, not to equal one full meal. Abstinence (from meat) is obligatory for all who have reached their 14th year.
The rule of abstinence from meat is binding upon Catholics aged 14 and onwards. This does not apply to dairy products, eggs, or condiments and shortening made from animal fat. Fish and all cold-blooded animals may be eaten (e.g., frogs, clams, turtles, etc.).
If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the 'paschal fast' to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily his Resurrection.
Throughout the Archdiocese, parishes gather as a community in abstinence from meat for weekly fish fries during Lent. Contact your nearest parish to learn more about these community-focused events. Many are held before or after Friday services praying the Stations of the Cross.
Through our works of prayer, fasting, and abstinence, let us heed the prophet Joel's exhortation to return to God with our whole heart (2:12).”
Lent is a penitential season and as such religious practices such as daily Mass, reception of the Sacrament of Penance, the devotion of the Stations of the Cross, works of charity and justice, and acts of self-denial are highly encouraged.
Like millions of Catholics across the world, the Pope himself receives ashes on Ash Wednesday.
"The celebration of the Paschal Triduum of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection, the culmination of the liturgical year, calls us yearly to undertake a journey of preparation, in the knowledge that our being conformed to Christ is a priceless gift of God’s mercy."
Pope Francis, 2019 Message for Lent
Praying the Stations of the Cross
Beginning as the practice of pious pilgrims to Jerusalem, the devotion multiplied after fewer faithful could make the journey to the Holy Land, he said. It eventually took the form of the 14 stations currently found in almost every church.
Those who pray the Stations of the Cross can also gain a plenary indulgence on any Friday in Lent and a partial indulgence on other days of the year, with the addition of prayers for the Holy Father’s intentions. Those who cannot do the full exercise of the Way of the Cross, which includes the physical genuflecting and kneeling at certain parts of the prayers, may gain the same indulgence by sending at least one half an hour intently reading and meditating on the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ, according to the U.S. Bishops Conference.
A plenary indulgence grants the remission of all temporal punishment due to sin, and must be coupled with a sacramental confession, reception of Holy Communion, praying for the Holy Father’s intentions and complete detachment from all sin, including venial.
USCCB Resources
The USCCB offers many resources to help Catholics observe Lent, including audio recordings of scripture, daily reflections, downloadable calendar, and more - www.usccb.org/lent
Catholics are also encouraged to make going to confession a significant part of their spiritual lives during Lent. The U.S. Bishops' statement, "God's Gift of Forgiveness: The Pastoral Exhortation on the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation" can be distributed and shared in parishes. Dioceses are encouraged to make the sacrament available often during Lent and to use these resources to promote participation. We also have resources to help individuals who have not been to confession in a while "rediscover" the sacrament.
Recipes: Meatless Meals from Around the World
Each Friday of Lent, we abstain from eating meat as a way to experience a little of the hunger that many experience daily. Journey with us around the world and incorporate these Lenten recipes into your meatless Fridays. Give the money you saved each week by not eating meat—about $3 per person per meal—to your CRS Rice Bowl to feed those in need around the world.
For the recipes, visit Catholic Relief Service Rice Bowl project.
IDEAS ON FORMED
Brother Francis: The Stations of the Cross - Kids - FORMED
The Sign of the Carved Cross by Lisa M. Hendey - FORMED
The Young People's Book of Saints by Hugh Ross Williamson - FORMED
Lent with Brother Francis - FORMED
He is Risen! The Power of the Resurrection
Made for Heaven | Lent with Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR
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