U.S. Bishops announce new Advent website

For the second consecutive year, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has created a Website http://www.usccb.org/advent/ with suggestions for daily prayer, reading, reflection and action throughout the Advent and Christmas seasons.

The focal points of the site are the interactive calendars for the Advent season, which begins with the first Sunday of Advent, November 29, and the Christmas season, which ends on January 12 with the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. Clicking on each date on the calendar brings up a menu of resources for reading, prayer, reflection and action. Another highlight of the site is the Festival of Lesson and Carols, which can be heard live online or downloaded for later listening.

The Website includes biographies from Catholic News Service on many of the saints whose feasts are celebrated during the Advent and Christmas seasons along with audio “Saint of the Day” podcasts from Franciscan Radio.

Other resources on the Web site include a list of recommend holiday-themed movies from the USCCB’s Office for Film and Broadcasting, prayers and blessings from the USCCB publication Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, and suggestions for remembering the needs of immigrants and the poor throughout the season.