St. Basil Advent Calendar Family Challenge

Families are invited to dive into Advent together in a unique way this year and take part in the St. Basil Advent Calendar Challenge! Together as a family throughout Advent, complete different challenges designed to help you keep the faith central to the holiday season. For each challenge you complete, color in the candle on that day to show you have completed it. Complete at least three challenges a week for each of the four weeks of Advent to be entered to win the family prize package!

Families who complete their calendars will be entered to win a family prize pack valued at $150! The prize pack includes a $50 Master’s Pizza gift card and a $100 gift card to a family outing of your choice, either Main Street Play Cafe, Urban Air Adventure Park, or Top Golf!

Completed calendars must be turned into the Parish Office or Children’s Faith Formation Office by January 6, 2027.

Download the Advent Calendar to Print at Home 8.5x11"

Download the Advent Calendar to Print at Home 11x17"

Additional Resources and Links

Nov. 30 St. Andrew Christmas Novena Prayer

This prayer is traditionally prayed for a particular intention 15 times a day from the Feast of St. Andrew, Nov. 30, through Christmas Day! To complete today’s challenge, you only have to pray through the prayer once, but consider taking up this prayer throughout Advent as a beautiful way to prepare your heart. To help pray throughout the day, pray it 5 times at each meal time! The link below has more information and the written prayer, and there is also a downloadable phone lockscreen with the prayer to help remind you to pray as well!

St. Andrew Christmas Novena

Phone Background

Dec. 2 Advent Spotify Playlist

Enjoy our Advent tunes as you drive, cook, clean up, and more today and throughout this season!

Advent Playlist

Dec. 4 Read the Upcoming Sunday Gospel

Read the Gospel for the Second Sunday of Advent together as a family. Below are some questions to help guide your family prayer!

What is one word or phrase that stood out to you?
Was there something you didn’t understand?
What do you think people thought of John the Baptist?
How do you prepare the way for Jesus? At school? At sports and clubs? At work? How do you share your faith with others?
What is one way we can ask the Holy Spirit to help us prepare the way this Advent?

Read the Gospel

Dec. 9 Watch Life is Worth Living with Bl. Fulton Sheen

Blessed Fulton Sheen was an American Archbishop, a philosopher, theologian, and pioneer in broadcasting. As a TV Evangelist, he brought many hearts to Jesus and shared the truths of the Catholic faith with the whole world through his popular show, Life is Worth Living. Born in El Paso, Illinois, this midwest priest and Bishop was one of the most influential people of the 20th century, especially for the American Catholic Church, paving the way for media evangelization. He was beatified this year on September 24, 2026 and today we celebrate his feast day for the first time as a Blessed!

Learn more about Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Watch Life is Worth Living Episode 13 Superman and Christmas

Choose your own episode of Life is Worth Living

Dec. 10 Learn About Our Lady of Loreto

The Holy House where Mary was raised and received the Annunciation was miraculously transported from Nazareth to Loreto, Italy. Whether it was transported by angels or people, we don’t really know, but it is an important holy site where many miracles have occured.

Video About Our Lady of Loreto

Prayer to Our Lady of Loreto

Dec. 13 St. Lucy Cinnamon Rolls and Crown

St. Lucy was a young girl who brought food to the persecuted Christians hiding in the catacombs in Rome during the persecution of Diocletian. To be able to carry the food and see in the dark, she wore candles on her head. Today, it is a Swedish tradition that the oldest daughter in the family wears a white dress and red sash, and a crown of candles and greenery to bring Lucia Buns, traditionally made with saffron, to her family.

There are many ways to live liturgically and honor these traditions. An easy way would be to celebrate is with store bought cinnamon rolls, or you can try these homemade cinnamon rolls!

St. Lucy Cinnamon Rolls

St. Lucy Candle Crown

Dec. 17 O Antiphon Ornaments

The Roman Church has been singing the “O” Antiphons since at least the eighth century. They are the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer from December 17-23. They are a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes, but present ones as well. Their repeated use of the imperative “Come!” embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah.

Throughout the Season of Advent, invite your kids to color the O Antiphon ornaments. Cut them out and add a ribbon to create an ornament. Starting on December 17, hang one ornament on the tree each day, and as a family pray the O Antiphon for the day together. There is one extra ornament that kids can decorate with a Nativity scene and place on the tree December 24! This is a beautiful and simple way to pray with the coming of Jesus as a family!

O Antiphons Printable Ornaments