Faith SR
ADVENT & CHRISTMAS JOY
Beginning the Church's liturgical year, Advent (from, "ad-venire" in Latin or "to come to") is the season encompassing the four Sundays and weekdays leading up to the celebration of Christmas. The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to the Incarnation and Christ's return.
While our spiritual focus remains on cultivating quiet moments for reflection and preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ on Christmas, we do also make time for festive celebrations. Cultivating joy in our lives, along with hope, love, and peace is an important element of the Season of Advent.
Week I: Hope
Week II: Peace and Generous Hearts
Week III: Joy
Week IV: Love
ALL SCHOOL
ADVENT PRAYER
Chapel
Our Chapel is open & available for personal prayer for students and employees, as well as classroom visits to our Advent Wreath and Nativity.
Hanging of the Greens Prayer at Home
We invite families to use this Hanging of the Greens Prayer Service as they begin decorating to call to mind the rich, spiritual symbolism of our Christmas decorations. Feel welcome to adapt the program to your family!
Advent Prayer Service for Parents
Join us on Wednesday , December 1 at 8:00 am in the Chapel for "A Hanging of the Greens Prayer Service.”
Feast of St. Nicholas (December 6) and Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12)
We find special and simple ways to acknowledge these holy days in the life of our Church.
Christmas Joy
SRPA Christmas Decorating Day
Wednesday, December 1, 8:00 am. Help transform Hamilton House, the Mater Center and the divisions into a beautiful holiday wonderland. The morning will begin in the Chapel with “A Hanging of the Greens Prayer Service” in the Chapel. We will then go to divisions to decorate for Christmas. Stay for an hour or all morning! This is a great way to kick-off the Christmas season. Volunteers are still needed. Please contact Caroline Schropp, Christmas Decorating Chair to join the committee.
Breakfast with Santa
Saturday, December 4, 9:30 am–12:00 pm. Registration is limited and required for a 30 minute time slot.
SRPA Bubbly and Bonfire
Wednesday, December 8, 7:00–8:30 pm, Shelter Hill Campus Walk. Join Stone Ridge moms for a casual evening to share some holiday cheer. More information to follow.
Feast Wishes
Friday, December 17: Feast Wishes is a celebration organized by the students, primarily the senior class, for the faculty and staff and enjoyed by the entire K-12 student body. The event includes prayer and musical performances and is a way to usher us into Christmas break on the last day before it begins. More information to follow.
Upper School students accessorize their dress uniform with the following colored sweaters:
4th Ac: White Sweaters with red tights
3rd Ac: Green, preferably Hunter Green
2nd Ac: Red
1st Ac: Yellow
Christmas Mass
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we will not be celebrating Mass in the Stone Ridge Chapel this year.
Generous Hearts
Charitable Collections During the Season of Advent
LOWER SCHOOL
Advent Prayer
- Students will participate in and lead Advent prayer in the Chapel.
- Students Grades 1-4 will receive a daily Advent reflection booklet.
- Students grades 3-4 will complete an Advent wreath craft to take home
- Dec 8: LS/MS Mass for Solemnity of Immaculate Conception, 10:30am
Christmas Joy
- Dec 15: Christmas Concert (K–4): Wednesday, December 15, 8:20 am, Cokie Boggs Roberts ‘60 Theater, Mater Center. While we are not limiting this event to parents only, please be mindful of inviting additional guests so that we can maintain social distancing between families in the theater. All students and guests will wear a mask. RSVP by December 13. The students may accessorize their uniform with red, green, or white socks, stockings, blouse or turtleneck, or bows. Please do not wear any distracting accessories. NO hats, blinking lights, etc.
- Dec 16: Pajama Day
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Advent Prayer
- Weekly Advent Prayer Assembly & Daily Advent Advisory Reflection
- Dec 1: Grade 6 Mother/Mother-Figure Prayer Service, 8:00 am, Mater Center & Grade 6 Retreat Day
- Dec 8: LS/MS Mass for Solemnity of Immaculate Conception, 10:30am
Christmas Joy
Middle School Student Council Sponsored Events:
- Dec 6, 7, 8: Candy Cane Grams for sale to benefit the Humane Society
- Dec 9: Christmas Sing-a-Long Assembly and Accessorize your kilt Christmas theme
- Dec 13-17: Advent Angels
SRPA:
- Dec 10: Lunchtime Christmas Celebration
UPPER SCHOOL
Advent Prayer
- Dec 1 - Advent Prayer Service & Social Action Day
- Dec 3 - First Friday Mass
- Dec 8 - Mass for Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, 9:20 am
- Daily Advent Assembly Prayers Assemblies with Live Advent Calendar sponsored by Core Group
Christmas Joy
Core Group Sponsored Events:
- Nov 29 - Dec 3: Candy Cane Grams for sale
- Dec 10: last day for 1st annual Department Door decorating challenge entries
- Dec 16: Ugly Sweater Contest
SRPA:
- Dec 10: Lunchtime Christmas Celebration
RESOURCES FOR PRAYER AND FORMATION
Advent Resources
- RSCJ Advent Reflections
- What is Advent? Advent in 2 Minutes Video
- Advent Activities (Loyola Press)
- Advent Resources (Saint Mary's Press )
- O Antiphons
- Advent Playlist (Spotify)
Society of the Sacred Heart Resources
General Prayer and Faith Formation Resources
- Centering Prayer Guide
- Daily Prayer of St. Madeleine Sophie
- Espacio: A How To
- Give Us This Day Daily Reflections
- Guided Breathing Meditation to Begin Contemplative Prayer
- Hallow Phone App
- Lectio Divina
- LS & MS Grace After Lunch
- Outline of the Daily Examen
- Prayers in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Rosary Guide & Rosary Video & Rosary Coloring Sheets
Family Prayer Guides
- Catholic Prayer and Crafts For Kids
- Guide to Creating a Family Prayer Space
- How to Lead an At-Home Prayer Service (from Archdiocese of Washington)
Charitable Works Ideas
Need more guidance or suggestions? Share your photos, ideas, and questions with the Campus Ministers. Photos and ideas might be shared on Stone Ridge’s Social Media Pages.