Advent, more than any other season of the year, is rooted in the virtue of hope.
For Catholics, the real new year begins not on January 1 but on the First Sunday of Advent, the day when the Church begins her annual new cycle of Scripture readings and worship.

Mary of Nazareth has always had a special place in the heart of the Church. She is theotokos, the “God-bearer”; Scripture’s greatest human witness of courage, humility and grace.

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput O.F.M. Cap. will be the principal celebrant and homilist at a Mass honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Hispanic Community of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will gather in anticipation of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12th) to celebrate Las Mañanitas, a traditional serenading of Our Lady on the vigil of her feast day, followed by Mass.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 are proud to participate in the 6th Annual Feast of the Seven Fishes Dinner presented by Talk Radio 1210 WPHT and benefitting the Catholic Charities Appeal as well as The Archbishop’s Christmas Benefit for Children.

The 58th Annual Archbishop’s Christmas Benefit for Children will host 450 young people who receive services from over a dozen programs administered by Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. They represent approximately 16,000 children across the Delaware Valley who benefited from residential and community-based programs offered by Catholic Social Services this year, including children with disabilities, at-risk children, and dependent or court-adjudicated youth.

World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 is reaching out to residents from across the Philadelphia Metropolitan region including South Jersey, Delaware, and the Lehigh Valley to participate in the “Host a Family” Program. In partnership with global travel company, Homestay.com, this accommodation alternative provides residents within 120 miles of Philadelphia the opportunity to open their homes and offer lodging to visitors from across the country and around the world for the 2015 World Meeting of Families.

The World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015, being held September 22-27, 2015, and featuring Pope Francis’ first visit to the United States, has debuted the official hymn for this international gathering. Entitled “Sound the Bell of Holy Freedom,” the hymn draws inspiration from the theme for the 2015 World Meeting of Families, “Love is our mission: the family fully alive,” as well as the Roman Missal and Sacred Scripture.

The 27th Annual Retirement Fund for Religious Collection will be held at parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on the weekend of December 6-7, 2014.

Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary welcomes all to attend an Open House followed by an evening of religious music and prayer during this year’s Advent season at the 27th annual Christmas Concert.

Preliminary Congress Agenda for the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015