Contact: Kathleen Hohl, 414-769-3494

Sunday, November 28, marks the beginning of Advent, the four-week liturgical season preceding Christmas. During Advent, the Church prepares to celebrate the birth of Christ while also anticipating his second coming. The First Sunday of Advent is also the first day of the new liturgical year.

Advent has a two-fold character:

1 - as a season to prepare for Christmas when Christ's first coming to us is remembered; and

2 - as a season when that remembrance directs our mind and heart to await Christ's second coming at the end of time.

Advent, thus, is a period of devout and joyful expectation.

Liturgies during the final week of Advent focus on the approaching birth of Christ, with the role of the Blessed Mother receiving special emphasis. The observation of a preparatory season prior to the celebration of Christmas dates back to the fourth century.

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception will be celebrated on Wednesday, December 8. The Immaculate Conception is the belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was graced by God in such a way that she was preserved from sin from the first moment of her existence.

Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy Dolan will celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 812 N. Jackson St., on the four Sundays of Advent – November 28; December 5; December 12; and Sunday, December 19 - all at 8 a.m. Archbishop Dolan will celebrate Midnight Mass at the Cathedral on Friday, December 24. Additionally, Archbishop Dolan will celebrate Mass at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, December 24, at Old St. Mary Parish, 836 N. Broadway, Milwaukee.

Numerous parishes and schools throughout the 10-county Archdiocese of Milwaukee have planned special Advent activities. A list of these activities is available by opening the PDF below.

Archbishop Dolan's Advent message is available at this link.

Visit this link for Archbishop Dolan's Advent radio messages.

Visit this link for Archbishop Dolan's Christmas radio messages.

An Advent Prayer is available at this link.

Additional information on Advent traditions is available at this link.