Home/Stay Informed/All Diocesan Articles

All Diocesan Articles

Current Articles | Archives | Search

Advent Resources to Help You Prepare for Christmas

Posted on December 02, 2020 in: News, Advent

Advent Resources to Help You Prepare for Christmas

“Beloved, now is the acceptable time spoken of by the Spirit, the day of salvation, peace and reconciliation: the great season of Advent. This is the time eagerly awaited by the patriarchs and prophets, the time that holy Simeon rejoiced to see.”
- St. Charles Borromeo

During the four weeks of Advent, we prepare for the celebration of Christ’s birth through prayer and reflection. We contemplate the First Coming of Jesus as Savior and anticipate His promised Second Coming. Amid the flurry of Christmas preparations, we look for practical ways to observe the holiness of the season in our everyday lives.

To help you with this preparation we have gathered various Advent resources into one convenient location. There you will find Pope Francis's apostolic letter, Admirabile signum, on the meaning and importance of nativity scenes, a blessing prayer for an Advent wreath or manger, an Advent calendar, and weekly videos and reflections from ministry staff and clergy of the Diocese of Norwich.

Are you looking to go deeper into your faith-if so, you will find Commentary on the Proper Prayers of Advent from the Roman Missal as well as Lectio Divina for Advent.

The photo gallery of Christmas creches from around the diocese can also be viewed here. You can read more on this here.

Bookmark the link below and visit it often as you prepare for the wonderful season of Christmas.

NorwichDiocese.org/Advent

Our Advertisers Support Our Ministries

Please Support Our Advertisers

Most Viewed Articles of the Last 30 Days

Your Guide to Church Bazaar and Craft Fairs and Other Holiday Events

Posted on October 12, 2026 in: News, Events

2123

Your Guide to Church Bazaar and Craft Fairs and Other Holiday Events

Church Fairs, Bazaars & Holiday Events Use the Handy List Below to See Where Church Fairs, Bazaars and Special Seasonal Events Are Being Held Throughout the Diocese. You Can Also Add Events to Your Google Calendar from Ours. Saturday, October 17, 5 PM – 8 PM Annual Polish Dinner St. Mary of Czestochowa Church, Middletown Enjoy a homemade Polish dinner, raffle and auction. Takeout will be available. Proceeds support the church. Call the parish office for more information. ...

Read More

The World Mission Rosary Comes to Norwich Oct. 9

Posted on October 08, 2026 in: News, Events, Around the Diocese

1026

The World Mission Rosary Comes to Norwich Oct. 9

Throughout October 2026, the faithful of the Diocese of Norwich can join Catholics around the world in praying the World Mission Rosary each day at 3:00 PM. Even if we cannot gather together physically, imagine the power of thousands of Catholics stopping at the same hour and offering Mary’s Rosary for the missionary work of the Church. This tradition carries on the missionary legacy of Blessed Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, who had a deep devotion to the missions and encouraged Catholics to unite prayer with support for the Church’s missionary work. Gather...

Read More

Vatican: The Pope's Surgery was Successful

Posted on October 15, 2026 in: News

631

Vatican: The Pope's Surgery was Successful

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- An operation to remove a small nodule from Pope Leo XIV's lung was successful, and he was recovering in his room, according to the Vatican press hall. "The procedure was successful" and went according to schedule and as planned, it said in a Telegram message Oct. 13, adding that the pope had gone back to his hospital room after the surgery. The brief medical report came before 8 p.m. Rome time, about seven hours after he arrived at Rome's Gemelli hospital for the scheduled surgery. The news followed an evening rosary that ...

Read More

Pilgrims invited to Auriesville for the Feast of the North American Martyrs

Posted on October 08, 2026 in: News, Events

627

Pilgrims invited to Auriesville for the Feast of the North American Martyrs

Bishop Richard Reidy and Fr. Brian Maxwell are inviting the faithful to join them on Monday, October 19, for a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs in Auriesville, New York, to honor the North American Martyrs on their feast day. Pilgrims will meet at the shrine, at 136 Shrine Road in Fultonville, and join other visitors from across the region in celebrating the feast with a Shrine Mass, a walk through the shrine's historic grounds, and a community lunch with Bishop Reidy. Where three saints gave their lives Auriesville is a well-known place...

Read More

Pope Leo XIV's Video Message for World Mission Sunday, Oct. 18

Posted on October 07, 2026 in: News, Events

624

Pope Leo XIV's Video Message for World Mission Sunday, Oct. 18

World Mission Day was first established by Pope Pius XI, beginning in October 1927. This year the Church celebrates the 100th World Mission Day on Sunday, October 18, 2026. As the Church prepares to celebrate this day, Pope Leo XIV calls us to unity in Christ, love, and renewed missionary commitment "with joy and zeal in the Holy Spirit" in his first World Mission Sunday Message: “One in Christ, united in mission."

Read More

Corporal Work of Mercy- Bury the Dead

Posted on October 07, 2026 in: News

483

The Corporal Work of Mercy, Bury the Dead, reminds us of our shared responsibility to honor and care for those who have gone before us. The Norwich Diocesan Cemetery Corporation oversees eight Catholic cemeteries throughout eastern Connecticut, serving families with approximately 450 burials each year. These sacred grounds include St. Joseph Cemetery and St. Mary Cemetery in Norwich; Sacred Heart Cemetery in Norwich; St. Patrick Cemetery in Uncasville; All Hallows Cemetery in Moosup; Sacred Heart Cemetery in Wauregan; St. Mary Cemetery in New London; and Resurrection Cem...

Read More