What Happened To Advent In Our Youth & Young Adult Groups?

What ever happened to the Christmas Spirit in our Catholic Groups? The Church could be decorated with wreaths, garlands, pine trees, red bows and more, but the spirit of the holy day season seems dead. It is felt not only in the groups that meet for prayer, for study or for social gatherings, but deep in the heart of family life. The Season of Advent and Christmas is polluted with consumerism that the idea of preparing for the Incarnation of Jesus in our lives is as distant as the Holy Lands.

Don’t get me wrong, buying gifts and spending the “bucks” is not bad at all, but when it takes precedence over Jesus as the “True Reason of the Season”, then we have strayed far from Him. It’s time we get back to the root of our faith in the Incarnation, bringing to light the traditions that have made our Advent Season a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus. We, the children of our Father in Heaven should be mindful of this deep preparation for we give honor to the Name above all names that won us to the Father’s Heart.

The problem I find in most youth and young adult circles is that they do not know or understand the meanings and symbols of Advent and Christmas. Let alone, some see it as a waist of time; a past time experience that seldom attracts or moves the Christian heart to a deep awareness of his or her need of Jesus. Christmas truly challenges the Christian to believe whole heartedly in Jesus, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. Hence the Advent season prepares us to enter into a more personal relationship with Jesus. This should be the desire of every Christian, “I want to belong to Jesus. I want to be His alone. I want to be Holy.” Isn’t that the reason for the Season?

Youth and Young Adult Ministers should be aware of those who say that the symbols, traditions, liturgical prayers, and songs of praise are meaningless. Let alone, they should not be so quick to say to themselves that all these little details are worthless. This will only show that the youth or young adult minister is interested in other things then the Birth of Jesus. It will affect not only their Christian walk, but their vocation as well. The “Domino” effect will also shake the faith of the youth and young adults they serve.

Advent should be for all of us Christians a “Waiting For The Moment” experience; that experience being the encounter of Jesus as a Child.

Here are 6 tips to get you, your group, and your family involved in preparing for Christmas during this Advent season.

1) Purchase or make an Advent Wreath that will have candle holders. Get three purple candles and a pink candle. You can purchase them at a Catholic Religious gift shop nearest you. Visit our links of Catholic stores. Purchase or look up on the internet prayers that coincide with the lighting of each candle, or look in your parish missal and follow the prayers and biblical reflections for the days you meet. Make sure they coincide with the Sunday readings. Also displaying a Nativity scene in your group or home can emphasize the meaning of the Incarnation.

2) Pray the Rosary in dedication of the Joyful Mysteries. In between each decade, sing Christmas Carols in connection of Jesus’ coming. Prepare together with Our Lady as you pray for a deeper love of the Incarnation.

3) Prepare your talks or dynamics in connection to the Incarnation. Use Sacred Scripture, the Catechism, and the Lives of the Saints to inspire the youth and young adults during Advent. Invite special guest speakers, THOSE WHO KNOW & LIVE the season of Advent. BEWARE OF THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN THE MEANING OF THE INCARNATION.

4) Pick a special day for family and friends to gather for prayer, singing Christmas carols, readings of Scripture, and readings of the writings of the Saints in connection with Christmas and the Incarnation.

5) Plan a fund raiser or project in helping those in need during the Christmas time. Connect it to the parish life, and try not to go far from your parish, remember your community is your first home. Even visiting the sick or elderly at home and at the hospitals (THAT BELONG TO YOUR PARISH) can be a Christmas gift. You can pray with them, sing Christmas Carols, or give a small gift to them that may help them prepare for Christmas.

6) Encourage members of your community to get involved parish activities such as daily and Sunday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, morning, evening and night prayers, lessons and carols, Advent missions, and so much more.

Let’s prepare New York Catholic Youth and Young Adults for the Coming of Jesus. Live Jesus in our hearts, forever!