O Come, O Come Emmanuel!" This familiar hymn reminds the church of the season of Advent, a time marked for preparation and consecration prior to the coming of the Messiah.
The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival" and, when used with Christmas, it calls us to preparing the way of the Lord. We are called to make ourselves ready to receive the Hope offered to us in the incarnation of Christ, the Son of God.
Advent is about the Hope in the love and mercy found in the incarnation of our Lord (that God became man to offer us salvation). No matter where you are in your faith journey—just coming to the Church or in the pew every week—we invite you at this moment to take these four weeks of to turn your heart toward the Lord and prepare to invite Jesus deeper into your heart for your entire life.
Worship and Sacraments
Weekend Mass Schedule
Join us each weekend at our regular Mass schedule plus for our special celebrations.
-
Saturdays
4:00 pm (bilingual) -
Sundays
8:30 (English)
10:30 (English)
12:30 pm (Spanish)
Feast Days
Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary
Friday December 8
- 12:10 pm Mass
- 7:00 p.m. Mass
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Tuesday, December 12
- 4:30 a.m. Rosary
- 5:15 a.m. Las mañanitas
- 8:00 pm Mass (English)
- 6:30 pm Rosary
- 7:00 pm Mass (Bilingual)
- Concheros y apariciones
Confessions - Celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation
God’s mercy is limitless. He calls each and everyone of to be humbled and seek the healing we need. We will have various opportunities to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation during this Advent Season. Come receive the grace of God’s Mercy found in this sacraments.
Reconciliation Times and Days for December 2023
- Friday, December 1, 11:30 am - 12:00 pm and 12:30-1:00 pm.
- Saturday, December 2, 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
- Wednesday, December 6, 5:00 pm - 6:15 pm
- Saturday, December 9, 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
- Wednesday, December 13, 5:00 pm - 6:15 pm
- Saturday, December 16, 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
- Wednesday, December 20, 5:00 pm - 6:15 pm
Community Events
Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe
Celebrating the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a rich tradition from Mexico where she appeared to a poor native 1500 years ago. Here at St. Francis, we keep this tradition by praying a novena from December 4 through 12 each year. Click here to view our schedule and learn more.
Will be available in the gathering space after Masses the weekend of
November 25-26. Each missal is $6.00.
.
Adoration Schedule
December 5th 8:00am- 4:00pm
December 12 No adoration
December 19 8:00am- 4:00pm
December 26 No adoration
January 2 No Adoration
Service
St. Vincent Christmas Season
St. Vincent’s is partnering with Community Action House, the Salvation Army, and the dedicated Lady Knights, to spread holiday joy to the community. Whether it's providing free turkeys, gifts for children, or baking supplies, the spirit of giving and togetherness is in full swing. Click on this link to join us as we give and receive the joy of the holiday season through the kindness of these wonderful organizations.
Faith Formation Family
Spend some time this week talking about how your family will use the weeks of Advent (which begins December 3rd) for preparation. What are some ways your household/family can incorporate prayers, charitable works, and other activities on a daily or weekly basis during Advent to spiritually prepare for Christmas?
Advent Family Night
Tuesday, Nov 28
6:30 pm @ Corpus Christi Catholic School
As part of our parish's Family of Faith program, families will come together to create a family Advent wreath that families will take home and use as part of their family prayer time throughout the season. We ask for a $5 donation from each family to help cover the cost.
We invite you to join us! Please RSVP to Susan (sbippley@stfrancisholland.org) before 11-22 so we can be sure to have enough supplies for your family.
Advent Wreath Blessing
Lord our God,
we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ:
he is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples,
he is the wisdom that teaches and guides us,
he is the Savior of every nation.
Lord God, let your blessing come upon us
as we light the candles of this wreath.
May the wreath and its light be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring us salvation.
May he come quickly and not delay.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/. Amen
R. Amen.
Resources
For some ideas, look at one or both of the Advent calendars; each one has ideas for families and children. Click here for more
Advent Resolutions
- Prepare the advent wreath at home
- Put the manger or nativity
- Increase prayer in 5 minutes
- Listen to Christmas carols
- Participate in the novena of Guadalupe
- Pray the posada 9 days
- Confess
- Pray as a family
- Give a gift to a family in need
- Sign up for FORMED Daily Advent Reflections Share the joy of the season with those you love by creating a space for Christ in your day and in your heart. Join us - receive daily meditation, formation, and motivation in preparation for Christ’s coming.
- Resources from the Diocese of Grand Rapids
Christmas
Join us as we celebrate the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Christmas Eve and Day schedule can be found below.
More details are available on our parish website.
Visit our Christmas page for more details...
Saturday (4th Sunday Advent)
- December 23rd, 4:00 pm, Bilingual
Sunday Mass(4th Sunday Advent)
- December 24th, 10:30 am, English
- December 24th, 12:30 pm, Spanish
Christmas Eve Mass
- December 24th, 5:00 pm, Bilingual
- December 24th, 10:30 pm, Bilingual
Christmas Day
- December 25th, 10:30 am, English
- December 25th, 12:30 pm, Spanish