We kick off Advent this year with our third annual Jesse Tree Advent program! If you’re a member of our mailing list, you can receive a daily devotional right in your email inbox throughout Advent. Or follow along on Facebook or Instagram. Look for daily posts starting Sunday, November 27th!
Like a traditional Advent Calendar, the Jesse Tree Advent daily devotional incorporates daily scripture, bible characters and symbols to point the way to Bethlehem. Each day symbolizes people or events in salvation history-- the events in human history that accomplish the saving action of God. Reflecting on salvation history allows us to see how God prepared the world for the coming Jesus. This year, anticipate the coming of the Lord as you prepare to celebrate His first coming at Christmas.
“During the first two weeks, the Jesse Tree Advent looks at Old Testament and foreshadowing of the coming of the Lord,” said Father David Huemmer, spiritual director of the St. Joseph Retreat & Conference Center. “The second half prepares us for the birth of Jesus, His first coming, with scripture from the New Testament as well as the O Antiphons that are part of the evening prayer of the liturgy of the hours from December 17th through December 23rd.”
We are hosting two Advent Day of Reflection retreats as well as our monthly Get Away for a Day.
On November 29th, Fr. David Huemmer will lead the Advent Day of Reflection: Preparing for the Coming of the Lord. Using insights from the liturgy and the saints, Fr. David Huemmer will lead two conferences exploring the ways the season helps us prepare for the coming of the Lord. The retreat lasts from 9 am to 3 pm ET and costs $30. Time for prayer and reflection as well as the Mass, lunch and Daytime prayer will fill out the day. Register HERE before November 23rd.
Our December 6th Get Away for a Day is an unstructured retreat designed for guests to enjoy our beautiful and peaceful campus, visit the shrines, read in one of our cozy gathering spaces, make the Way of the Cross, or spend time in prayer in the St. Joseph Chapel. Reconciliation, Mass, Lunch and Daytime prayer are offered. The retreat lasts from 9 am to 3 pm ET and costs $20. Register HERE before December 2nd.
On December 17th, Diocesan staff will lead an Advent Eucharistic Day of Reflection. Join in the National Eucharistic Revival with a retreat exploring the relationship between the Incarnation, the Passion and the Eucharist. This Advent, dig into this amazing truth to gain a greater appreciation for the beauty and power of the Eucharist. After Mass and lunch, guests will have the choice of three breakout sessions: How the Eucharist Enables a Life of Discipleship, How the Eucharist Equips us for Mission to the World or The Role of Conversion in the Eucharistic Way of Life. Eucharistic adoration and time for personal reflection round out the day. Register HERE before December 9th.
We’ve created ornaments for our own Jessie Tree—and you can too!
We printed the images from our Jesse Tree Advent social media campaign and decoupaged them onto wooden disks to create our own Jessie Tree ornaments. We’re placing one on the tree in the lobby each day of Advent. You can create your own Jessie Tree ornaments with coloring pages, crafts or by using the Jesse Tree Kit by Lynn M. Simms and Betsy Walter, Pauline Kids Books & Media. This book is available in The Carpenter's Shop.
Incorporate our Traditional, Contemporary & Gregorian Spotify.com Playlists into your Advent preparation.
The music of Advent, available through our traditional, contemporary and gregorian Advent playlists on Spotify.com, prepares us for second coming of Jesus in a way that allows us to sing of wonderful mystery! With accessible streaming services like Spotify.com, it is easy to find Advent music! Playing Advent music as we prepare for Christmas instills a Spirit of Waiting in our souls and builds anticipation for the Season of Christmas. It allows Advent to become a part of us.
If you don't already have an account with Spotify.com, it is easy and FREE to create at Spotify.com. Then, search for St. Joseph Retreat & Conference Center and 'follow' us. Be sure and 'like' one or all of our Advent Playlists so you can listen throughout the season.
We feature three playlists-- Traditional, Contemporary & Gregorian. The Traditional Playlist features liturgical hymns that sound more like what you'd hear at church with choirs, organs and chanting. The Contemporary Playlist features hymns and songs that sound more like what you'd hear on the radio with guitars, drums and keyboards. The Gregorian Playlist features traditional Gregorian Latin chants.
Father David Huemmer recommends two books this Advent.
Come, Lord Jesus: Meditations on the Art of Waiting by Mother Mary Francis, P.C.C. (only available as an ebook)
“A nice way to look into the beauty of Advent through the eyes of a cloistered monastic community. Coincidently, we have a Poor Clare Community of the Collentine Reform, the same order as the author of this book, in Kokomo. These meditations provide a unique way to connect in spirit to our Poor Clare Sisters.”--Father David Huemmer
Advent Memento Mori: A Companion on the Last Things by Sr. Theresa Aletheia Noble, FSP (Daughter’s of St. Paul)
“This book gives us a way to prepare for the coming of Christ by meditating on the last things. I discovered this half-way through Advent last year and purchased it, so I am looking forward to actually using it for a full Advent this year! This book provides a unique insight on death, judgement, hell and heaven through the lens of of Advent and leaves you with a strong sense of hope. Hope allows us to grow more in love with the giver of the gift, Jesus. It features a journal component with prompts as well.”--Father David Huemmer
Come to our First Annual Festival of Nativities, Sunday, December 18th from 11 am to 4 pm ET
Join us in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ by viewing more than 25 nativity displays setup throughout our main building. This family-friendly event offers a peaceful place for guests to reflect upon Christ’s sacred birth as they usher in the Christmas season. Light refreshments will be served. RSVP HERE for this free event.
Do you have a nativity set you’d like to display at this event, contact Marketing Specialist Twyla Arnold, (765) 551-9584 or [email protected] to participate!