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Journey with Us Weekly Reflection

Fourth Week of Advent Reflection: Love
Staff Reflector: Robin Vincent, Coordinator of Youth and Young Adult Ministry

As we await the birth of Jesus, we reflect on the journey of Mary and Joseph to a foreign land. Imagine being pregnant, cohabitating with a new partner, and constantly living in the borderlands. How do you think she was able to cope during this great time of transition?

As they tread through various cities, they ended up knocking door by door, and the residents of Bethlehem wouldn’t let them in. Imagine, it’s 3 AM, and a woman and a man with a donkey knocked at your door. What would your reaction be? Would you let them in?

Now close your eyes and think, these were people that were journeying and probably didn’t smell the nicest, or look the most presentable. Smell the sweat, and notice the tears and rips in their garments.
Would you invite them in?

As we focus on love this advent season, let’s center our hearts to find beauty in the stranger. Take an extra moment to share a laugh, give a hug, and to be kind to those not in our circles. Open your hearts to the stranger.
First Week of Advent
File Size: 102 kb
File Type: pdf
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Second Week of Advent
File Size: 154 kb
File Type: pdf
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Third Week of Advent
File Size: 210 kb
File Type: pdf
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Advent Prayer Resource - Hallow!

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Christmas Mass Times

St. John XXIII Parish

The Nativity of the Lord, Christmas Eve—December 24, 2022
      St. Mary Church
            5:00 p.m. Mass, includes the Children’s Nativity Story
            9:00 p.m. Mass, Hymns & Carols at 8:45 p.m. with the Traditional Choir
      St. Nicholas Church
            3:00 p.m. Mass, includes the Children’s Reenactment of the Gospel Nativity Story
            5:00 p.m. Mass, bilingual
            10:00 p.m. Mass, choir music begins at 9:30 p.m.
 
The Nativity of the Lord—December 25, 2022
      9:30 a.m. Mass (Contemporary Choir); 11:00 a.m. Mass (Traditional Choir) at St. Mary Church
      10:15 a.m. (English); 1:00 p.m. (Spanish) at St. Nicholas Church
 
Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God—January 1, 2023
      St. Mary Church
            Mass Schedule: Tuesday, December 31 at 5:00 p.m.; January 1 at 9:30, 11:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m. (French)
      St. Nicholas Church
            Mass Schedule: Saturday at 4:30 p.m. (English) including Kwaanza Celebration
            Sunday at 8:00 a.m. (Spanish), 10:15 a.m. (English), and 1:00 p.m. (Spanish) ​

St. John Newman Parish

Christmas Eve
4:00 pm - St. Athanasius
4:00 pm - St. Joan of Arc
10:00 pm - St. Athanasius

Christmas Day
10:00 am - St. Athanasius
10:00 am - St. Joan of Arc

New Year's Eve and Day
Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God
4:30 pm - St. Joan of Arc
9:00 am - St. Athanasius
10:15 am - St. Joan of Arc
11:30 am - St. Athanasius

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An Advent tradition:
​The Jesse Tree

The Jesse tree helps us connect the custom of decorating Christmas trees to the events leading to Jesus’ birth. The Jesse tree is named from Isaiah 11:1: “A shoot shall come out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.” Jesse was the father of King David. We adorn a Jesse tree with illustrated ornaments that represent the people, prophesies, and events leading up to the birth of Jesus. The ornaments of the Jesse tree tell the story of God in the Old Testament, connecting the Advent season with the faithfulness of God across four thousand years of history. ​

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read more about the advent wreath
advent calendar

The Advent Wreath

The symbolism of the Advent wreath is beautiful. The wreath is made of various evergreens, signifying continuous life. Even these evergreens have a traditional meaning which can be adapted to our faith: The laurel signifies victory over persecution and suffering; pine, holly, and yew, immortality; and cedar, strength and healing. Holly also has a special Christian symbolism: The prickly leaves remind us of the crown of thorns, and one English legend tells of how the cross was made of holly. The circle of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life found in Christ. Any pine cones, nuts, or seedpods used to decorate the wreath also symbolize life and resurrection. All together, the wreath of evergreens depicts the immortality of our soul and the new, everlasting life promised to us through Christ, the eternal Word of the Father, who entered our world becoming true man and who was victorious over sin and death through His own passion, death, and resurrection.

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Posadas

Saturday, December 17 at 6:00 pm
​St. Athanasius Church of St. John Newman Parish

Sunday, December 18 at 6:00 pm
Chapel at St. Nicholas Church of St. John XXIII Parish

Sunday, December 23 at 6:00 pm
Chapel at St. Nicholas Church of St. John XXIII Parish

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Our Lady of Guadalupe

December 12 - come, celebrate with us!
see our page

Contact & Visit Us

San José Sánchez del Río Center | Main Office
St. Nicholas Campus of St. John XXIII Parish
1108 Washington Street
Evanston, IL 60202

St. Francis of Assisi Center | Satellite Office
St. Athanasius Campus of St. John Newman Parish
​UNDER CONSTRUCTION
2510 Ashland Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201

Phone: 847-719-9071
Email: 
​office@ucym.org

Mailing and Delivery Address
806 Ridge Avenue
c/o UCYM Office
Evanston, IL 60202

Main Office Hours
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Tuesday 3-8 pm
Wednesday 3-8 pm
Thursday 3-8 pm
Friday 3-9 pm
Saturday by appointment
Sunday by appointment

Quick Links

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  • About UCYM
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    • Hispanic Celebrations >
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