November 28
Make and bless the family Advent wreath. November 29
Make plans to receive the Sacrament of Penance prior to Christmas. November 30
Kids make dinner night! Older children do the cooking; younger children set the table. December 1
Family Movie Night: Make some hot chocolate and popcorn and settle in to watch a Christmas classic, especially The First Christmas. December 2
Start a Family Rosary Night. Pray at least one decade of the rosary before dinner or before bedtime. December 3
Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, priest. Pray for missionaries and all who work to spread the Gospel. December 4
Write Christmas cards to loved ones. The whole family can be involved: older children can write notes and address envelopes; younger children can seal envelopes and affix stamps and stickers. Make sure to tell stories about the cards’ recipients. December 5
Make Christmas decorations, such as clay or ceramic ornaments or paper or popcorn chains. December 6
Saint Nicholas Day. (Saint Nicholas was a fourth century bishop in Asia Minor.) Leave small treats in the children’s shoes. At dinner, say a special prayer for all bishops. December 7
Read a Christmas card at the dinner table. Prayer for the sender and, during dinner, recall stories about this person. Continue this practice each night through Epiphany (January 2). December 8
On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, learn some of the traditional prayers to Mary in the Book of Mary. December 9
Family Rosary Night December 10
Family Forgiveness Night. Apologize to a member of the family you have hurt during the past year. Forgive those who have apologized to you. End the evening by sharing a sweet dessert. December 11
Put up and decorate the Christmas tree. December 12
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe: Share a special breakfast of hot chocolate and pan de dolce. Place some flowers (roses are traditional, but any flower is fine) before the family’s statue of Mary. December 13
Bless and light the Christmas tree. December 14
Bake Christmas cookies. Share some with neighbors or shut-ins. December 15
Gather some friends and go Christmas caroling at a nursing home, homeless shelter, etc. December 16
Family Rosary Night December 17
Begin including the “O Antiphons” as part of your table prayer or bedtime prayers. December 18
Finish Christmas shopping. Select at least one or two purchases for donation. December 19
Deliver gifts to a local shelter, refugee center, or crisis pregnancy center. Rather than just dropping the package off, spend some time learning about the work of the facility. Find local Catholic Charities agencies at www.catholiccharitiesusa.org. December 20
Wrap Christmas presents. December 21
Write and send thank you notes to pastors, parish staff, and volunteers who worked on the Advent and Christmas celebrations. December 22
Put up and bless the Christmas creche. December 23
Family Rosary Night December 24
Begin the Novena for Peace (to end on January 1). December 25
Celebrate the Birth of Christ by attending the Eucharistic Liturgy and spending time with family and friends. December 26
Celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family with a special family dinner. Pray the Prayer for Families before dinner. December 27
Write and send thank you notes to some people who serve you at home, at school, in the office (e.g., mail carriers, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, housekeeping staff, etc.). December 28
Feast of the Holy Innocents. Pray for greater respect for all human life, from conception to natural death. December 29
Family Fun Night. Children take turns choosing activities. Consider making this a weekly or monthly observance. December 30
Family Rosary Night December 31
Review fundraising requests from charitable groups and decide which ones you will support. Send out the checks to make the December 31 deadline for charitable deductions. January 1
Resolve to pray as a family in the year ahead. Start today! January 2
Today begins National Migration Week. Pray for those who journey far from home in search of peace, opportunity, and security. |
