Parishes Make Plans For The Liturgical Season

Published: November 11, 2004

ATLANTA—Advent and Christmas services are in preparation all around the archdiocese, as Catholics prepare to celebrate the birth of the Savior with prayer and music. The following includes some of the events scheduled to date.

Holy Trinity Church, Peachtree City, invites all to a family Advent reflection on Thursday, Nov. 18, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The event, which is sponsored by the parish RCIA program, revolves around the meaning of the four weeks of Advent with activities designed to encourage family traditions.

Our Lady of the Americas Catholic Mission (Nuestra Señora de las Americas Misión Católica), Doraville, is holding a number of December services, to which all are invited. On Saturday, Dec. 4, a Novena to the Virgin of Guadalupe will be held at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, Dec. 5, a Mass/Novena to the Virgin of Guadalupe will be held at 2 p.m. A Mass/Novena to the Virgin of Guadalupe will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday-Friday, Dec. 6-10. On Friday, Dec. 10, the service will be preceded by a Guadalupe procession at 5 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 11, events will include an Aztec dance at 3 p.m., rosary at 8 p.m., Mass honoring the Virgin of Guadalupe at 10 p.m., and midnight mariachis at 12 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, will be the celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe with a sunrise service at 5 a.m., and Masses following at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., and 12 p.m. A Mass and “posada” leading up to Christmas will begin on Thursday, Dec. 16, with a Mass and posada at 7 p.m.; and will continue on Friday, Dec. 17, with rosary at 6 p.m. and Mass and posada at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Dec. 18, there will be posada and rosary at 6 p.m. following by a Mass and Christmas catechesis party at 7:30 p.m. On Monday, Dec. 20-Thursday, Dec. 23 there will be rosary at 6 p.m. followed by Mass and posada at 7 p.m.

Sacred Heart Church, Hartwell, will hold a novena prior to the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 3-11, and on the feast day, Dec. 12, at 11 a.m. The parish will hold a penance service on Wednesday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m.

St. Brendan Church, Cumming, will hold an Advent penance service on Monday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m.

St. Mary Magdalene Church, Sharpsburg, will have an Advent penance service on Tuesday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. The service will be held at Cokes Chapel, 4096 Lower Fayetteville Road, Sharpsburg. The church will hold its second annual live nativity on Friday, Dec. 10, and Friday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m. in the barn on the parish property, 4046 Lower Fayetteville Road, Sharpsburg.

St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Alpharetta, will hold an Advent penance service on Tuesday, Dec. 14, at 7:30 p.m. The combined choirs at the church will hold an Epiphany concert on Friday, Jan. 7, from 8-9 p.m. in the church. A reception will follow in the parish hall.

The parish will also hold a mission on Monday-Friday, Jan. 24-28, each night at 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday sessions are in English, and Tuesday and Thursday sessions are in Spanish. The mission will conclude with a bilingual liturgy on Friday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m.

Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Atlanta, will hold a parish mission on Dec. 13-15 beginning at 7:30 p.m. each evening at St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church, 3110 Ashford-Dunwoody Road, Atlanta. The mission will be led by Father Francis Reque, OSB. A reception will follow each evening’s service.