Illustration by Tom Schulte

ATLANTA—Advent begins Sunday, Dec. 1 and is the start of a new liturgical year. Symbolized by the color purple, the season of Advent includes the four Sundays and weekdays leading up to Christmas.   

Parish events and penance services will be published again in the Dec. 12 print edition. Email happenings to: editor@georgiabulletin.org with “Advent Event” in the subject line.  

From services to programs of lessons and carols, here’s a sampling of events in the Archdiocese of Atlanta marking this season of reflection:  

Reflections 

HOLY SPIRIT’S ADVENT VIDEO REFLECTIONS: Father Luke Ballman, pastor of Holy Spirit Church in Atlanta offers short video reflections for the season to help prepare for the coming of the Lord. Subscribe to the videos at HSCCATL.com. The parish community invites all to join them for worship during this Advent and Christmas. The parish is located at 4465 Northside Dr, NW, Atlanta. 

Penance services 

ST. THERESA CHURCH: Mon, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. St. Theresa of the Little Child Jesus Church is located at 401 Prestley Mill Rd, Douglasville. A dinner, posadas and other activities precede the penance service.

CHRIST THE KING’S PENANCE EVENING: Mon, Dec. 16, 6-7:30 p.m. The Cathedral of Christ the King is located at 2699 Peachtree Rd, NE, Atlanta. Priests from across the archdiocese will be available for the sacrament of reconciliation. For additional information, contact Bernadette Flowers at bflowers@ctking.com. Confessions will be in the Hyland Center. 

HOLY SPIRIT CHURCH: Mon, Dec. 16, 6:30 p.m. Holy Spirit Church is located at 4465 Northside Dr NW, Atlanta.  

ST. VINCENT de PAUL CHURCH: Tue, Dec. 17, 7 p.m. St. Vincent de Paul Church is located at 680 W Memorial Dr, Dallas.

ST. JUDE THE APOSTLE CHURCH: Wed, Dec. 18, 6:30 p.m. St. Jude the Apostle Church is located at 7171 Glenridge Dr in Sandy Springs.

OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP CHURCH: Wed, Dec. 18, 7 p.m. The church is located at 210 Old Center Point Rd in Carrollton. 

ST. JOHN VIANNEY CHURCH: Thur, Dec. 19, 7 p.m. St. Vianney Church is located at 1920 Skyview Dr, Lithia Springs.

Music programs 

ADVENT MEMORIAL & MUSIC: Wed, Dec. 11; 7:30 p.m.-12 a.m.; St. Philip Benizi Church, 591 Flint River Road, Jonesboro. St. Philip Benizi will host a memorial for San Juan Diego at 7:30 p.m., followed by music by SPB Talent at 8 p.m. and mariachi at 10 p.m.   

ADVENT CELEBRATION: Thurs, Dec. 12; 5 a.m.-12 a.m.; St. Philip Benizi Church, 591 Flint River Road, Jonesboro. St. Philip Benizi Church will host several celebrations throughout the day, starting with a serenade with mariachi at 5 a.m. An English Mass will be celebrated at 8:30 a.m. A feast for Our Lady of Guadalupe will be at 7:30 p.m., followed by an 8:30 p.m.-12 a.m. celebration in the Founders’ Hall, with hot cocoa and pastries provided.  

ARCHDIOCESAN CHOIR LESSONS AND CAROLS: Fri, Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m.; Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 353 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta. The Archdiocesan Choir of Atlanta will present its annual Lessons and Carols, this year entitled “Child of Peace.” Under the direction of music minister Dónal Noonan, the choir will lead the service with well known and loved seasonal music as well as some new arrangements to help all in attendance truly feel the anticipation of the long-awaited Savior. The Basilica community will host a reception following the service and free parking is located in the lot beside the church. Tickets are not required and all are welcome. For more information, please email archchoir@archatl.com.

MARY OUR QUEEN LESSONS AND CAROLS: Fri, Dec. 13, 7 p.m. Mary Our Queen Church, 6260 The Corners Pkwy NW, Peachtree Corners. Mary Our Queen’s choirs and instrumentalists will present “A Service of Lessons and Carols.” The church invites everyone to listen to the reflections and sing along with the beautiful Advent carols that recount mankind’s fall, the promise of the Messiah and the anticipation of Christ’s Nativity. 

ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL LESSONS AND CAROLS: Sat, Dec. 14; 6:30 p.m.; St. Michael the Archangel Church, 490 Arnold Mill Rd, Woodstock. Come hear the music of the season during this candlelight service and enjoy holiday cookies afterward. The parish’s Angel Choir, Youth Choir, Schola and Adult Choirs will perform together. Contact: Director of Choirs Nila Alexander by email to nalexander@saintmichaelcc.org. 

CONCIERTO DE NAVIDAD EN ESPANOL: Miércoles 19 de diciembre a las 7:30 p.m.-9:00p.m.; en la parroquia: Holy Spirit Catholic Chuech, 4465 Northside Drive, NW Atlanta, Ga 30327. Hacemos la cordial invitación a este concierto, que cerca de la fecha de Navidad pretende fomentar alegría y motivación a las familias y feligreses en esta temporada tan especial. Nuestros coros parroquiales de jóvenes y adultos en conjunto con músicos invitados y dirigidos por Jorge Alvarez, nos deleitarán con un repertorio de los de villancicos más populares en Español. No se necesita hacer reservación para asistir y el concierto no tiene costo alguno. 

SONGS FOR THE JOURNEY CONCERT:  Sun, Dec. 22; 6:30 p.m.; St. Philip Benizi Church, 591 Flint River Road, Jonesboro. St. Philip Benizi Church will host a concert by the SPB Choirs. Admission is free.  

Markets and more 

ST. NICHOLAS PHOTO EXPERIENCE & MARKET: Sat, Dec. 14, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; Mary Our Queen Church, 6260 The Corners Parkway NW, Peachtree Corners. Everyone is invited to shop from merchants and support fundraising drives, enjoy treats as well as coloring for children of all ages. Come meet St. Nicholas and reserve a photo session with the saint who started it all. For more information, visit maryourqueen.com.

LADIES ADVENT BY CANDLELIGHT Sat, Dec. 14; 5:30 p.m. Prince of Peace Church, 6439 Spout Springs Rd, Flowery Branch. Hosted by the Columbiettes, the Advent charity fundraiser will feature guest speaker, Jennifer Thomas with her message of “Embracing your Fiat!” focusing on Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel. Thomas is a wife, mother and a parishioner of Prince of Peace.  She is a contributing writer to Catholicmom.com and a cohost of the Mourning Glory Podcast.  Thomas is authoring a book about the loss of her parents and the impact on rediscovering her faith. Tickets for the catered dinner are $25 each. A fundraising raffle will benefit the Columbiettes Charity Fund for parish ministries and the community. The purchase of eight tickets reserves a table. Visit https://pop.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2572103 for tickets.

HOLY CROSS LIVE NATIVITY: Sun, Dec. 22, 6:30 p.m. Holy Cross Church, 3773 Chamblee Tucker Road, Atlanta. St. Francis created the first ever nativity scene in a cave near Greccio, Italy more than 800 years ago. Today, the nativity scene is synonymous with Advent and the birth of Jesus. So come take a pilgrimage to the church’s live nativity. There will be animals for the kids to pet, singing of Christmas carols and refreshments afterwards. Join us the parish for this fun evening to celebrate the coming of our Lord.

¡El belén viviente llega a Holy Cross! San Francisco creó el primer belén en una cueva cerca de Greccio, Italia, hace más de 800 años. Hoy, el belén es sinónimo de Adviento y del nacimiento de Jesús. Así que vengan a hacer una peregrinación a nuestro propio belén viviente el domingo 22 de diciembre a las 6:30 p. m. Habrá animales para que los niños acaricien, se cantarán villancicos y habrá refrigerios después. Únase a nosotros en esta divertida velada para celebrar la llegada de nuestro Señor.