Looking for Advent retreats and events?
The Advent Season is a time of reflection, preparing our hearts for the birth of Jesus. It is a quiet time of disciplining our hearts for the full joy of Christmas.
Numerous events held throughout the archdiocese include prayer and music to get all in the spirit of the season as Catholics.
Explore a favorite movie, spend New Year’s in a monastery
The Benedictine Sisters at St. Walburga Monastery in Elizabeth are offering mini-retreats throughout Advent, both in-person and online.
Beginning Thursday, Nov. 16, or Friday, Nov. 17, (Thursday evenings and repeated on Friday mornings) the sisters will explore George Bailey, the bedraggled hero of the classic movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.” During the three-session virtual retreat, (You can choose to tune in either Thursday or Friday) George can become a friend to each of us as we both enjoy its storyline and pray about its deeper meaning. $50 full series / $10 each session.
Beginning, Wednesday, Dec. 6, and continuing throughout Advent on Wednesdays, Sister Philomena Fleck, OSB will lead Advent Reflections in the afternoons online. Free.
An overnight retreat will be offered to welcome 2024 with quiet joy and deep reflection at the St. Walburga Monastery in Elizabeth from Sunday, Dec. 31 to Monday, Jan. 1. Enjoy liturgy, quiet prayer, and festivity with the monastic community and other retreatants. Cost is $80.
To register for the retreats, click here.
Delivered to your inbox
Join the School of Theology at Seton Hall University for its 2023 Advent meditation series, The Hospitality of Advent, which will explore and consider how Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, and other great figures of the Gospels and Church tradition welcomed Jesus into their hearts.
Authored by the community of Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, daily reflections will be delivered via email, starting on the first Sunday of Advent, Dec. 3, and continuing through Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. To register click here.
Healing advent service
Our Lady of Mt Carmel Roman Catholic Church in Lyndhurst will host an Advent Retreat with Father Pio Mandato, FM.H.J. on Tuesday, Dec. 5. Confessions will begin at noon.
At 4 p.m. there will be an Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by the benediction and talk at 6:30 p.m. The healing service with the glove of Padre Pio will begin at 7 p.m. Register at johnleaps.com.
Blue Mass
Find comfort and hope when you are not feeling the holiday season for whatever reason. On Dec. 10, 3:00 p.m. the Church of the Little Flower in Berkley Heights will hold a Blue Mass.
Refection with Sister Teresa Maya
As you prepare for Advent and savor the experience of the first session of the Synod, join the Archdiocese of Newark for a time of reflection on “Missionary Discipleship” with Sister Teresa Maya, CCVI. “A familiar Spanish saying defines the experience and worldview of Sister of Charity of the Incarnate Word Teresa Maya: Ni de aquí, ni de allá (from neither here nor there),” according to the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word website.
Three sessions will be held: Thursday, Nov. 30, 6 p.m. for CCVI Consecrated Life; Friday, Dec. 1, 7 p.m. for the Hispanic community; and Saturday, Dec. 2, 9 a.m. for the English-speaking community. Dinner/Breakfast will be served at each session in the Archdiocesan Center Auditorium. Register at karin.walters@rcan.org.
To Jesus, through Mary
An Advent Evening of Reflection will be held at St. Rocco/St. Brigid Parish in Union City, on Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. A spiritual sharing — “To Jesus, through Mary” — by Angie Rotella-Suarez will include songs, scripture readings, spiritual reflections, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and individual confessions.
Music at the Cathedral
The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark will host concerts and a musical leading up to Christmas.
On Sunday, Dec. 10, the cathedral will host “An Advent Carol” presented by the Xavier Company. The musical drama follows the holy family on their Advent journey. The play starts at 4 p.m. and is free. All are welcome.
Navidad Latina will be held on Thursday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. The 52nd Candle Sing, when the faithful can join the Cathedral Choir under candlelight to sing Christmas hymns, will be held on two nights Dec. 13 and 14 at 8 p.m. On Sunday, Dec. 17, the New Jersey Symphony will join the Montclair University Singers performing The Messiah at 7 p.m. All events are free except for “The Messiah.” Visit njsymphony.org/messiah to purchase tickets for “The Messiah.”
Live Christmas play
The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal will hold their annual Christmas play with live animals on Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. at the Most Blessed Sacrament Friary in Newark. All are welcome.
Lessons & Carols
St. Aedan’s: The Saint Peters University Church will present the 11th Annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols — a concert of readinsg and music featuring the Aidan C. McMullen Choral and St. Aedan’s SCHOLA on Suday, Dec. 10 at 5:30 p.m. The concert will be under the direction of University Director of Music Joseph W. Hill, Jr. with Paulo K. Tirol, assistant director of music, at SC. Aedan’s: The Saint Peter’s University Cuarch Admission is free. A reception will follow the concert.
Celebrate the Epiphany
The Immaculate Conception Church and the community of Montclair will celebrate the Epiphany with the Three Kings on Jan. 6 beginning at 2 p.m. The Epiphany commemorates the visit of the Magi, the baptism of Jesus, and the wedding at Cana.
Hundreds of the faithful will gather in Montclair as the three kings — Gaspar (Casper), Melchior, and Balthasar — walk their camels down Church Street following a “star.”
