Advent

***Suggested Age Range - Our suggestion of an age range for which the resources are best suited. This is just a suggestion to help you in your planning.***

Advent Mission: The Fulfillment Of All Desire - Webinar Series

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
This is a replay of their LIVE, online Advent Mission from 2021. Watch on demand! There is one, hour-long video session for each Sunday in Advent. Dr. Ralph Martin will teaches and answer questions on the first stages of the spiritual journey, as found in his book The Fulfillment of All Desire.

This Advent Mission is for everyone! Ensure your foundations are still strong, or discover the basic decisions and practices necessary to make further progress in the spiritual life!

ADVENTureWITH MARY - WOMEN OF GRACE

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
The Daily Gracelines, "Adventure with Mary" program is a free daily reflection that will help you to prepare for Christmas and grow closer to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Her Son, Jesus. Beginning the first Sunday of Advent, and continuing every day until December 31st, you will receive short inspirational reflections to help you to wait, watch, and prepare for the coming of the Christ Child whose life and death bring us eternal salvation.

Advent Made Simple

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
Franciscan University’s Advent Made Simple website can help stir our hearts to greater devotion throughout the Advent season. The site includes inspirational videos, blogs, quizzes, music, and many other resources. Please drop by every Sunday to receive ongoing insights and encouragement so your Advent truly becomes a time of deeper faith and greater love for Jesus and for others. You can also sign up for weekly email updates during Advent.

Advent: More Than A Chocolate Calendar

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
A short video presentation by Ascension Presents with Father Mike Schmitz.What does Advent mean to you? A time to put the lights up, gift shop, and eat chocolate? Or is it something more? Fr. Mike says it’s good to prepare ourselves for Christmas during Advent, but ultimately that’s not what the liturgical season is about. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus had to stay in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. Will you use this season to make room for Jesus in your life?

Advent Workshop - Catholic Culture

Suggested Age Range: All Ages / Families
The Advent Workshop provides a rich set of resources for families to use in celebration of Advent in the home. 

Advent & Christmas MUSIC PLAYLIST - FREETRUTH.ca

Suggested Age Range: All Ages
YouTube Music Playlist: A compilation of our favourite Advent and Christmas music made by us for you to enjoy! 

The Merry Beggars - Audio dramas

Suggested Age Range: All Ages (but the ghosts in A Christmas Carol may be scary for little ones)
Listen to FREE audio dramas with your family to enrich your Advent and Christmas experience. What's available: A Christmas Carol, The Night Train, Saints Stories, A Christmas Radio Variety Show, and more!

Ascension - Rejoice!

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
Rejoice! - An Advent Pilgrimage into the Heart of Scripture, Year A is a prayer resource that offers daily reflections on the Sunday Mass readings that will help you enter more deeply into the season of Advent. You can purchase the accompanying journal if you wish. Watch the videos on demand.

Other Free Resources From Ascension

Browse their extensive list of free resources, including podcasts, articles, videos, and more!

Free Prayer Cards - Just pay shipping!

BEST ADVENT EVER - DYNAMIC CATHOLIC

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
Best Advent Ever is a free, daily email program that will help you prepare for Christmas in a different way. Beginning the first Sunday of Advent and continuing every day until December 26. Sign up today! You can also sign up for the Best Christmas Ever!

Bishop Robert Barron's Daily Advent GospelReflections

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
Free daily email reflections: When you sign up, you can choose to receive the reflections in English or Spanish. Bishop Barron will then send you a new reflection each day during Advent.

FREE ebooks from Word on Fire

Perhaps you would like to dive into some free ebooks this Advent from Bishop Barron's Word on Fire ministry! Our suggestions: "How to Discern God's Will for Your Life" or "Creating a Rule of Life."

Carmelite Online Retreat - Advent 2023


Rooted in Divine Joy
(with St. Teresa of the Andes)

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
On Wednesday and Friday before Advent begins, and then weekly on each Friday of Advent, you will receive an inspiring meditation for the following week that includes text and video, along with brief, daily quotes from scripture and St. Teresa of the Andes to enrich your prayer.
The online retreat is offered by the Discalced Carmelite Friars of the Paris Province. English translations prepared by OCDS members from North America. Videos provided by the Discalced Carmelite friars, Washington Province in collaboration with ICS Publications. 

The Catholic Kid - Free Advent and Christmas Colouring Pages & crafts

Suggested Age Range: All Ages/Families
Free colouring pages for all things Advent and Christmas-related, including the Jesse Tree, the feast of Saint Nicholas, the Advent wreath, and more!

Advent Resources - FAMILY IN FEAST AND FERIA

Suggested Age Range: All Ages / Families
A large list of Advent and Christmasresources for families from Jennifer Gregory Miller.

Catholic Online School -Advent & Christmas

Suggested Age Range: All Ages 
The Catholic Online School is completely free! This bundle of classes has been set up to fill your hearts and your minds in preparation for the celebration of the Lord's birth.

The Catholic Homeschool Family - Advent & Christmas Guide

Suggested Age Range: All Ages / Families
The Catholic Homeschool Community is offering this Advent and Christmas guide for families. It is filled with specials to help you make beautiful memories, form traditions, and find peace in this Advent and Christmas season.

Catholic Answers: Day-By-Day Advent Apologetics Free eBook

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
Sign up for the Catholic Answers email newsletter and receive this free ebook!More info from their website: Advent is a time for Family & Friends....And questions about the Faith. Have the answers at your fingertips with this handy eBook...A different apologetics argument for every day of Advent. Get answers to your questions, like: What is Advent?, How can I develop a greater devotion to the Eucharist?, Who is "Mary of Nazareth?, And much more.

Catholic Icing

Suggested Age Range: Families / Elementary-Aged Children (K-Grade 8).
Many awesome and free, printable resources. Some available for purchase.

Advent and Christmas Crafts and Activities for Kids

Advent Wreath Crafts

Jesse Tree - How To and Resources

Includes a how-to guide, printable ornaments, how to draw your own ornaments and more!

Advent Saints- December Feasts Days To Celebrate With Kids

All kinds of activities to celebrate the feasts of Advent...including baking, crafts, how to draw, celebration ideas and more!

The Advent Song for Kids

Inlcudes a video and lyrics.

A Catholic view of the end times (second advent)

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
YouTube Video, Published on Dec 4, 2012: In this talk, Karlo Broussard gives the biblical foundations for the Catholic Church's teaching on the end times and, at the same time, dispels the various myths found within various Christian communities.. There are 2 parts to this talk. They are each about an hour.

Catholic Sprouts Advent & Christmas Resources

Suggested Age Range: Children (k-Grade 8)
All of these Advent and Christmas resources were designed by a busy Catholic mother, with the intention of making Advent more fruitful for children and families.

Daily Scripture Readings for Advent - Catholic.org

Suggested Age Range: All Ages
A list of daily scripture readings for the season of Advent.
More resources for Advent and Christmas, including information and activities for Advent and Christmas saints and feasts. 

Drawn2BCreative - Advent Activities for Families

Suggested Age Range: Families / Elementary-Aged Children (K-Grade 8)
Inlcudes Jessie Tree activities, 3-D Printable Advent Wreath, 3-D Printable Advent Calendar Boxes- in 4 display designs, Printable Colouring Pages, Saint Paper Dolls, Free Printable Christmas Gift Tags, O Antiphons - Free Printables, Free 3-D Printable Baby Jesus Ornament, Free Printable Coloring Christmas Cards, and more!

Franciscan Media -

Frequently Asked Questions about Advent

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult

amen App

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
The Amen app is the free Catholic prayer app that inspires your daily conversation with God through faithful meditations and nourishing Scripture. Please enjoy this latest offering from the Augustine Institute.

Holy Heroes - Advent Adventure

Suggested Age Range: Families / Children Ages 5-12
Holy Heroes provides some great Advent resources for families. Some are available for purchase. Their Advent Adventure is a free daily email subscription that includes videos and printable activities.

Free Jesse Tree Resources

The Immaculate Conception & the New Eve Video Series (Feast: December 8)- Dr. Brant Pitre

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
For the celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception celebrated on December 8th, Dr. Brant Pitre has created a 5-part video series to help us be better informed about the identity of Mary and where in Scripture we discover the Church's teachings on her role in salvation history. 

The Institute of Catholic Culture - Advent Events

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
Enrich your preparation for the coming of Christ with the Institute of Catholic Culture!

It is easy for the meditative aspect of this season to be overtaken by the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations.

Before things get busy, make plans now to join the Institute of Catholic Culture this Advent at an upcoming live event. Previous classes are also available on demand! Learn how the entire Old Testament points to Our Lord and how to enter into this season of preparation with an eye toward His return at the end of time!

CCCB Weekly Advent Video Reflections

Suggested Age Range: All Ages
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has prepared a video series reflecting on each of the four weeks of Advent.

LEGO Nativity Set Instructions

Suggested Age Range: Families / Children of All Ages / Adults?
Got legos? This website has instructions on how to build a nativity set with them!  Even adults may enjoy this one!

Look to Him and Be Radiant

Suggested Age Range: Families / Children of All Ages

Awesome resources for families. Check out the list below and visit this great website!

Advent, Christmas, Epiphany Ideas 2019
What Advent Looks Like* Coloring Page
Advent & Christmas Videos 
Advent Music Playlist
New Advent Resources
Printable Advent Wreath Candles*
Printable Advent Wreath Candles (Spanish)*
O Antiphons Printable Coloring Books*
Advent Traditions for Anyone and Everyone *
Advent Family Traditions*
Decorating for Advent
What Christmas Looks Like* Coloring Page
Epiphany Home Blessing Kit*
My Gift: An Epiphany Readers' Theater*
Peg Doll Nativity
Animals for a Peg Doll Nativity

Kid Made Peg Doll Nativity
All Natural Woodburned Peg Doll Nativity
Wandering Wise Men, Part 1
Wandering Wise Men, Part 2
Wandering Wise Men, Part 3
Seeking our Savior: A Detective Journey*  
Seeking our Savior (Spanish)*
The Saints of Advent
Advent Today
Favorite Advent Videos
A Stocking for Jesus*
Nativity Photo Booth
Advent Trivia Jeopardy
Advent Prayer Ring*
Advent Prayer Cards for Each Sunday (Year C)*

Loyola Press - Advent Resources

An awesome collection of free Advent resources in the tradition of Ignatian spirituality. Check out all of the great resources, including: Loyola Press Online Advent Calendar, Journeying with the Magi Advent Retreat, Advent Podcasts, Praying Advent, Advent Examen, Articles and Reflections, and the resources listed below!

Advent Activities for All Ages!

Click on the link for more resources and for activities for specific age groups! Includes: prayers, activities, Advent calendars, books, inspiration, The Jesse Tree.

Small Simple Ways Advent Retreat

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
Join Vinita Hampton Wright for the online Advent retreat “Small Simple Ways to Open Mind, Heart, and Spirit.” New video posts each Monday in December.

Arts & Faith: Advent

Suggested Age Range: Age 10+
Enjoy video commentary about works of art inspired by the Sunday Scriptures of Advent. Use these videos to take a new look at this season of preparation through the lens of sacred art. Accompanying blog posts offer reflections on using the art as a means of Ignatian imaginative prayer. Teachers and catechists: Use these videos and related activity suggestions in your faith formation classes.

Advent Weekly Video Reflections

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
Enjoy these video reflections to help you in your spiritual journey.
Week One: Love Is Coming by Joe Paprocki
Week Two: Waiting by Tim Muldoon
Week Three: How Does Hope Shape Us? by Vinita Hampton Wright
Week Four: Mary Receiving Jesus into Her Arms by Becky Eldredge

Reimagining Advent with the Examen

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
Reimagine Advent this year by identifying each day’s graces through the Ignatian Examen. The Examen is a way of prayerfully reflecting on the events of the day. The prayer helps us see God’s hand at work in our experiences.

Pop-Up Catechesis: Advent Hope

Suggested Age Range: Families / Age 7+
 This episode of explores the joyful season of Advent.

The Jesse Tree—Free PowerPoint Presentation

Suggested Age Range: Families / All Ages
Each slide in the presentation presents a brief meditation on a Jesse tree figure with a suggested ornament and Scripture citations. 

Mysteries of the Rosary - The Joyful Mysteries

Suggested Age Range: All Ages
Dive deeper this Advent with The Joyful Mysteries video series! If watching once weekly, you can begin your journey mid-November. The episode content will line up liturgically with the Nativity of the Lord falling around Christmas. Login to watch for FREE!

SCIENCE OF SAINTHOOD - FREE EBOOK

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
Advent is the perfect time to get your prayer life back in gear! Science of Sainthood is offering this free guide to jump-starting your prayer life, so that you can make this the most meaningful Advent ever! Get a FREE Quick Start Guide to Catholic Meditation. Learn How To Really Pray this Advent!

STAINED GLASS WINDOW CRAFT FOR CHRISTMAS AND ADVENT - Kinder craze

Suggested Age Range: Ages 4-10
These purple and pink “stained glass” candles to display in your window are so fun and cute.  This website includes a tutorial and free template, so you can easily create this window craft with the little ones in your home or classroom.

Steubenville Conferences - Advent Mission

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
The replay of a three-night virtual mission. Come together to open our hearts to the love of Christ in a new way this Advent and learn how we can share his love with others throughout the Christmas season and the rest of the year. 

ADVENT MISSION NIGHT 1: RECEIVING THE LOVE OF CHRIST

St. Paul wrote to the Church in Ephesus: "I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:18-19). We were created through God's love to live in that love. St. Paul speaks of the "power to comprehend" this love. The first night of our Advent mission will focus on how to open our hearts to receive a deeper outpouring of Christ's love and how to access the power to comprehend this love.

ADVENT MISSION NIGHT 2: ABIDING IN THE LOVE OF CHRIST

Jesus said at the Last Supper: "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love." (John 15:9). The word abide was used by Jesus with great intention. We are not called just to acknowledge the love of Christ, or occasionally experience the love of Christ, but to abide in Christ - to live in and remain in the love of Christ. The second night of the mission will help participants develop a practical strategy of abiding in the love of Christ based on Scripture, the Catechism, and the wisdom of the Saints. We end with a time of prayer and intercession.

ADVENT MISSION NIGHT 3: SHARING THE LOVE OF CHRIST

When describing his own desire to proclaim he love of Christ, St. Paul shared: "For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all.. so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them." St. Paul's life was so filled with the love of Christ that he could not help but proclaim in both world and deed. One the reasons Jesus blesses us with His love is that He wants us to become Ambassadors of that love. On the third night of the Advent mission, we will be discovering simple ways we can make the Advent and Christmas season more joyful by sharing the gift of Christ's love. We conclude the third night with a time of praying for those we know who need the love of Christ.

Theology of the Body Institute - Head & Heart Immersion Course

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
Concerned about the rampant sexual chaos and gender confusion in our world? The TOBI flagship course will breathe hope into your lungs. Sign up and they will email you 3 sample sessions – for free! Sign Up

Was Christ Born on December 25? Yes!

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
Hosted by Dr. Taylor Marshall, founder of the New Saint Thomas Institute: Have you ever wondered about the validity of December 25th as the date of Christ’s birth? Or has someone questioned/challenged you about it? This video by Dr. Taylor Marshall is informative and will provide you with the historical evidence you need to support that Jesus’ birthday is indeed on December 25th.