Advent Wreath Making Kits

St. John Paul II Parish will be making advent wreath making kits available in Scarborough, South Portland, and Cape Elizabeth. The kits include live greens from Broadway Gardens in South Portland, Advent candles, a wreath ring, wire, and devotional materials. To place your order, contact Amanda Meir at (603) 969-4009 or [email protected] The kits will be available for pickup at:

1.) Holy Cross Church, 124 Cottage Road, South Portland
Saturday, November 28, 3 p.m., and Sunday, November 29, 11 a.m.

2.) St. Bartholomew Church, 8 Two Lights Road, Cape Elizabeth
Sunday, November 29, 10 a.m.

3.) St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road, Scarborough
Sunday, November 29, 11:30 a.m.

A donation of $10 to defray costs would be appreciated. You can make that donation here - https://saintmax.weshareonline.org/AdventWreathMakingKits

Advent wreaths traditionally consist of a circle of evergreen branches with four candles, three purple and one pink or rose colored. During Advent, candles are progressively lit week by week, beginning with a single purple candle. During the second week, two purple candles are lit, followed by two purple candles and the pink candle during the third week, and then all four candles. The rose-colored or pink candle coincides with the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday), on which the priest also wears pink or rose. It is a time of celebration, noting that Advent is nearing completion and Christmas is near.

The blessing of an Advent Wreath traditionally takes place on the First Sunday of Advent (November 29, 2020) or on the evening before the First Sunday of Advent. When the blessing of the Advent Wreath is celebrated in the home, it is appropriate that it be blessed by a parent or another member of the family. To view a blessing from “Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers,” visit www.portlanddiocese.org/adventwreath.