Advent
AT- HOME ACTIVITIES:
We are providing you with at-home activities to do together as a family. Please use these activities to grow closer to each other in our individual families and to God.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word Bulletins: Sunday, December 5th, 2nd Sunday of Advent.
- Bulletin for 3-6 year olds: http://www.ourladyofthefields.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Childrens-Worship-Bulletin-for-3-6-year-olds12052021.pdf
- Bulletin for 7-9 year olds: http://www.ourladyofthefields.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Childrens-Worship-Bulletin-for-7-9-year-olds-12052021.pdf
Children’s Liturgy of the Word Videos:
In response to the pandemic, Heidi and Mark Witte have been producing free 25 minute Children’s Liturgy videos every week since March. The inter-activeness of their program encourages children to participate, appeals to various learning styles, and helps young children understand Scripture and their faith more fully! You can access this free catechetical resource by visiting their YouTube Channel here or by searching for “Heidi Witte – Kids’ Liturgy” on YouTube. Their program also airs on CatholicTV each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. EST.
Great Seasonal and Holiday Craft Ideas from Catholic Icing: https://www.catholicicing.com/
The Advent Season, with its built-in sense of expectancy, is one of the most privileged opportunities for us parents, grandparents, and godparents to share our faith with our children. It can also be one of the most hectic. If the HOPE of Advent is reduced to the hope of getting everything done, what can we do?
Celebrating Advent does not mean that we have to stop our preparations. It means we just have to REMEMBER why we make these preparations and take a moment to share that with each other.
Our faith formation families will receive an Advent calendar that can be displayed in the home. The scripture passages, prayers and suggested good deeds will add to your children’s sense of expectancy and help prepare their hearts during this joyful season as you await God’s great gift of His Divine Son, Jesus Christ.
The lighting of the Advent wreath is one of our most popular Advent traditions. Many families make the Advent wreath the focus of their prayer, often at meal times.
We recommend creating and lighting the Advent wreath (click on link for instructions) with your children. As you work together with them to create it, explain that the circle represents eternity– God’s presence is without beginning or end. Each candle represents one week of Advent; purple represents “preparation,” and rose, “joy”. The evergreens stand for Life Everlasting. Lighting the candles represents the coming of Jesus who pierces the darkness. As the light of the Advent wreath grows, we look forward to the coming of Jesus.
The prayers recommended (click on link to prayers) here have been kept short in order to make it easier to use with young children. Choose a time that best suits your family and try to involve everyone, even the youngest, in your prayers!
Christmas Shoeboxes for the Forgotten: Click here for flyer with instructions.
Archdiocese of Baltimore- At Home With Your Faith 
At Home with Your Faith will help you and your family live your Catholic faith and grow closer to Christ in these challenging times. Be assured of our prayers as you embrace the sacrifices and the graces of this new way of living our faith in the domestic church, your home. https://www.archbalt.org/at-home/
Family Prayer Time:
- Tips for Family Prayer Time: https://www.teachingcatholickids.com/category/prayer/
- Family Prayer Sheet: http://www.ourladyofthefields.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Family-Prayer-Sheet.pdf
Corporal Works of Mercy:
- Food Collections at Our Lady of the Fields: Go to our help wanted webpage for details: http://www.ourladyofthefields.org/help-needed/
Please contact the Evangelization and Faith Formation office at faithformation@olfparish.com or 410-923-6953 with any questions.