Holy Cross to Celebrate Advent Season

The College of the Holy Cross will celebrate Advent with the following events:

An Advent Reconciliation Service will be held on Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. in the Lower Chapel Gathering/Baptismal Space. Prepare for Christmas by celebrating God’s forgiveness and reconciliation with Rev. John Gavin, S.J., Rev. John Hayes, S.J., Rev. Anthony Kuzniewski, S.J., Rev Gregory Lynch, S.J., and Rev. Edward Vodoklys, S.J. Marty Kelly, assistant chaplain, will preside and preach.

The annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, sponsored by the Purple Key Society, will take place on Dec. 7 at 5 p.m. on O’Kane Porch, and will include musical performances by several student groups and the boys choir from the Nativity School. Rev. Charles Dunn, S.J., vice president emeritus and assistant director of planned giving at the College, will light the tree. Cookies and hot chocolate will be served. Santa will be available for photos and mingling with the crowd. Due to inclement weather, the lighting ceremony will take place on the first floor of the Hogan Campus Center.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception will take place on Dec. 8. Celebrate this Advent holy day of obligation at Masses at 8 a.m. (Rev. John Gavin, S.J., McCooey Chapel), 12:05 p.m. (Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J., Mary Chapel) and 10 p.m. (William E. Reiser, S.J., Mary Chapel, Spanish).

The 34th annual Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols will take place on Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. in St. Joseph Memorial Chapel. Presented by the chaplains’ office and the College Choir, the celebration will include seasonal music by the choir and holiday scripture readings by members of the College community. The religious service is based on one celebrated every year at King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, England.

For the first time, the festive holiday service will be streamed live over the web from St. Joseph Memorial Chapel. Bookmark the online location and be sure to tune in at 8 p.m. EST on Dec. 8.

The Community Advent/Holiday Mass and Student Farewell Mass for Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J., will take place on Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. in St. Joseph Memorial Chapel. On the last Sunday evening of the fall semester, a single community Mass is celebrated in place of the two regular Sunday evening Masses. This will also be Fr. McFarland’s last weekend Mass at Holy Cross.  Join in celebrating the season and in saying farewell to Fr. McFarland at this Mass which will be followed by a reception in the Lower Chapel Gathering/Baptismal Space.