CHRISTMAS is a special time for Catholics, and we are called to prepare ourselves in the weeks leading up to it.

This year, Advent begins on Sunday, 30 November, and runs for about four weeks until December 24.

In Brisbane, parishes are preparing with reflection material, novenas and hymns.

What is Advent?

Advent is the first season in the Church’s Liturgical calendar and is marked by expectation, waiting and hope.

We are given four weeks to prepare for the coming of Jesus.

Mother of Mercy Hendra parish priest Father Michael Grace said: “The word advent literally means someone’s coming, and that someone is Jesus.”

Just as we clean and tidy our home for a guest, we need to prepare spiritually to welcome Jesus.

“It is the coming of the Messiah. Therefore, we need to prepare ourselves well,” St Mark’s Inala parish priest Fr Boni Buahendri said.

“We are invited to come more to church and be involved in the preparation for Christmas.”

How to prepare for Christmas?

While decorating the tree, gift-giving, and festive planning are the practical aspects, preparations are also meant to be spiritual.

That means actively spending more time in prayer and reflection.

According to the catechism, the purpose of Advent is to make present the “ancient expectancy of the Messiah… by sharing in the long preparation for the Saviour’s first coming”.

St Mark’s Parish observes nine days of Novena that draws a big crowd every year.

“It’s very popular here, we call it Simbang Gabi,” Fr Buahendri said.

“Traditionally it comes from the Filipinos, but it is not exclusive. So, we invite people from other cultures and backgrounds to join… quite a lot of people come.”

Different community groups at the parish perform Christmas songs together.

“Another wonderful way to prepare is to make use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, because Christmas is all about being reconciled with Christ,” Fr Grace said.

There is also reflection material available, scroll down or visit a parish office near you. It helps us to get into the spirituality of Advent.

This year’s Advent resource, In Holy Stillness, invites us to pause amid the busy rhythms of our lives and to open our hearts to God.

On the Gold Coast, the Filipino community at St Brigid’s Parish in Nerang is organising dawn masses over nine days to pray for the world and to thank God for all His blessings.

They will be held from December 16-24 at 5am at 39-49 McLaren Rd, Nerang.

Also known as Misa de Gallo (Mass of the Rooster), it is a way Filipino Catholics prepare for the birth of Jesus.

The tradition also involves the community gathering to eat traditional foods like bibingka (steamed rice cake) after the services. Filipino food is shared with the whole community, and everyone is welcome to attend.

The Brisbane Oratory Christmas Market is a wonderful space for our Catholic community to come together.

It will run across two days – a Twilight Market on November 22 from 4.30pm to 9pm, and a Sunday Market on November 23 from 7.30am to noon.

St Stephen’s Cathedral is hosting its Advent Series 2025 titled A Medieval Christmas.

The program is centred around a group of fifteenth-century English carols, surrounded by medieval works written for Christmas from France and Spain. The concert concludes with a medieval carol sing-along.

Colours and themes for Advent

Purple is the primary colour for the season of Advent.

Every week a purple candle is lit around the Advent wreath, except for the third Sunday – Gaudete Sunday – when it is a rose candle.

As Pope Benedict XVI previously said, Advent was the season of the “presence and expectation of the eternal”. It was a period of joy that no suffering could diminish.

Each week focuses on a different theme: hope, peace, joy and love.

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Hope marks the beginning of Advent. As we wait for new life, we are invited to trust in the knowledge that God is at work for us.

Bible verses to reflect on:

Isaiah 9:2 – “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.”

Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

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Peace is a reminder to reconcile with God, with ourselves and others. The coming of Christ is a sign of healing and bringing harmony to relationships.

Bible verses to reflect on:

Isaiah 11:6 – “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb… for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

Luke 2:14 – “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!”

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Joy stems from the celebration that Christmas is approaching. It is the highlight of the third Sunday of Advent.

Bible verses to reflect on:

Luke 1:44 – “For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.”

Philippians 4:4 – “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

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Love is the culmination of the Advent and the very reason for the season. It is when God’s love becomes flesh that we are called to care for others.

Bible verses to reflect on:

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

1 John 4:9–11 – “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world …”

Advent hymns

Singing hymns can be a powerful way to deepen our spirituality during Advent.

Some hymns that can help us prepare for Christ are Joy to the World, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, and O Come, O Come Emmanuel.