Advent by Candlelight program helps women focus on ‘reason for the season’

Submitted on November 30, 2010

Barbara Watkins | bwatkins@archstl.org

Women pulled English crackers, a British holiday tradition, during the St. Catherine Laboure Advent by Candlelight program Nov. 21 in the parish gym. About 280 women attended the event, a combination candlelight prayer service and social gathering to help women focus on the real meaning of Advent and Christmas, rather than get caught up in the busywork of the season. The English crackers, which make a popping sound when pulled apart, were filled with small gifts.

Jerry Naunheim Jr.

Advent should be a time of spiritual preparation for the coming of the Christ Child. But for many people, especially women, the next four weeks become an overwhelming job, a constant flurry of shopping, cooking, cleaning and planning, with no time to reflect on the real meaning of Christmas. Advent by Candlelight, a single-session program for women, provides them the opportunity to join with other women and pause, pray and focus on the spiritual center of the Christmas season, the birth of Christ.