Join us for Advent Vespers (evening prayer) each Monday of Advent as we take time to slow down and pray during this sacred season of hope and expectation.  Add some extra time to tend to spiritually prepare for the celebration of Christmas.

Vespers, 5:45 PM in the upper church and on livestream.

Monday, November 30th

Monday, December 7th

Monday, December 14th

Monday, December 21th

Registration is now open for our Christmas “Midnight” Mass which will actually begin at 11:00 PM on December 24th this year due to Covid changes in the subway schedule.

Space will be limited to 100 people and social distancing and masks will be enforced. Please try to arrive a little early to Mass to be seated.

You can register on Eventbrite by clicking HERE.

This Mass will also be broadcast on Livestream.

The UGNAYAN Filipino Ministry is having its December First Sunday Mass this month in the Upper Church, 2:00 PM.  This is in lieu of our First Friday Mass which has been moved to accommodate members of our community who are working from home.

Please wear your masks, observe proper social distancing and sit on designated areas.

Thank you.

For the feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 2020 the schedule is as follows:

Monday, December 7:  Vigil Mass at 5:00 PM (in person and on livestream)

Tuesday, December 8:  Masses at 7:30 AM, 12:00 PM (in person and on livestream) and 5:00 PM

Join us for prayer on World Aids Day,

Tuesday, December 1, 5:30PM.
(in person and on livestream)

On this day, we remember all who have died from HIV and AIDS and those who continue to be affected. We also take this day to raise awareness and recommit to a faithful and dedicated response.

Come and worship with us.

All are welcome!

Join Father Michael Reyes as he walks us through the steps to make your very own advent wreath.
On Saturday, November 28th at 2:30pm

We will be posting a list of supplies very soon, so you can be well-prepared. In addition, the live video will stay up on our website and Facebook. If you aren’t available that day, stop back another time to join in the fun.

HISTORY OF ADVENT WREATHS
The word “Advent” is from the Latin word “adventus”, meaning arrival or coming. The Advent season is a four-week journey to the Christmas event and is a time of quiet growth, eager preparation and joyful anticipation. The Advent wreath itself is an enduring celebration of hope. In olden days, when snowy roads became impassable, farmers would bring their wooden wheels inside and hang them up to keep them from warping. Some people even decorated them with greens or lights as a prayer of hope that the dark winter would soon become a brilliant spring.

MEANING IN ADVENT WREATHS
Our modern Advent wreath is still a symbol of hope, rich with Christian meaning:

• CIRCLE – We use a circle wreath that has no beginning and no end to remind us of God’s unending presence – God was, is and always will be. As a symbol of eternity, we are also reminded that there is no end to God’s love for us and no darkness that God’s light cannot penetrate.
• EVERGREENS – the wreath circle is covered with branches from an evergreen tree that remind us that all life comes from God and that even in the cold grips of winter, life survives in unexpected places.
• CANDLES – adorn the wreath and represent the light of Christ, who said “I am the Light of the World” and came to bring God’s light to all of us.
• COLORS – The traditional colors for Advent candles are purple or blue, which represent both penitence and the kingship of Christ. A pink/rose candle for the third week of Advent to represent joy (Gaudete Sunday). The optional large white candle in the middle is the Christ Candle and represents purity.

Below are three different options for wreaths for you to choose from.  Fr. Michael Reyes will demonstrate all three:

Advent: Hope and Healing… Small Scripture Sharing Groups

Advent begins a new liturgical year full of possibilities to deepen our spiritual outlook and intimacy with God. The season encourages us to awaken new hope in God’s plan and promises. Advent can be a season of healing through profound appreciation that the Christ Child longs to be born once again in us. The Savior arrives to free, heal, and deliver us. His coming is personal.

We invite you to journey with the Friars throughout this Advent season by delving deeper into the prophetic texts from the Sunday’s in Advent. This year, we have several schedule options via zoom, to aid in making prayerful introspection a priority in your life this Advent and beyond.

Schedule options for 2020 Advent Small Groups:

• Tuesday Evenings, beginning Dec. 1st         |   7:00-8:00 p.m.
            (to meet the demand there will be two, Tuesday evening groups)
• Wednesday Midday, beginning Dec. 2nd    |   12:30–1:30 p.m.
• Wednesday Evenings, beginning Dec. 2nd |   7:00-8:00 p.m.
            (This group is now full.  Please chose another option)
• Saturday Mornings, beginning Nov. 28th    |   9:30-10:30 a.m.
            (Due to lack of demand for this time, this option has been moved to a second Tuesday evening group)

All Sessions are conducted via zoom. Once your registration is confirmed, you will receive an email with a personalized link to the zoom session.

We ask that links not be shared.

To register for a group, please fill out the form below.  Registration cut-off date:  November 30th.

The UGNAYAN Filipino Ministry is hosting An Advent Afternoon of Prayer with Fr. Michael Reyes, OFM.

With the advent season coming up,  this event gives us an opportunity to see his presentation, pray with the community, meditate quietly and to join the rest of the parish community to celebrate mass at 5:00 pm.

The event is FREE but you must register to attend as we have a limited number of seats.

To register go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-advent-afternoon-of-prayer-tickets-126468200793?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&aff=escb&utm-source=cp&utm-term=listing