December projects for families
Happy Advent! We hope that during the 4 weeks of Advent, families will be able to find some moments to gather together and reflect in a meaningful way, as we journey towards Christmas. The return of Advent brings the reappearance of many of our much-loved, familiar Advent activities, like the Advent Wreath, the Jesse Tree and the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe. There are many different options families can choose from to do together this month. (These activities are in addition to the monthly at-home work in the workbooks. Click for students in 7th & 8th grade and High School.) Since Advent is a time when we prepare together as a community, individual activities are not given during this month for Grades 1- 6. Instead, we invite you to do some things together. You can find the Parent Homework for December at the bottom of the page.
Looking for the pages from earlier months? Click on the links below.
September October November
Looking for the pages from earlier months? Click on the links below.
September October November
family activities
Option 1: Prayer Space - Advent Wreath
Set up an Advent Wreath in your home Prayer Space. Gather together to pray around it during this holy season, using the Advent Wreath Prayers on the side. Homework: Send a picture of your Advent Wreath to stcatherinehomework@gmail.com. 
Option 2: Prayer Space - Jesse Tree
Count down to Christmas with the Jesse Tree. The Jesse Tree traces the lineage of Christ through Biblical stories and symbols. Click this link to find out how to do it: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.cfm?id=545 You can download and print out the Jesse Tree ornaments for FREE here: http://www.catholicinspired.com/2015/11/printable-jesse-tree-ornaments-free-and.html Homework: Send a picture of your Jesse Tree to stcatherinehomework@gmail.com. 
Option 3: Parish Penance Service
The Parish Penance Service will be held on Tuesday, December 1, at 7:30, immediately following our regular 7:00 p.m. Mass. Homework: Send a picture of the Penance Service handout to stcatherinehomework@gmail.com. 
Option 4: Journey through Advent with FORMED
Sign up for The Road to Bethlehem, a journey that includes daily Advent reflections and enrichment from FORMED. You'll receive handpicked videos, talks, and texts every day throughout Advent, such as:
Homework: Send an email to stcatherinehomework@gmail.com explaining a new inspiration or understanding that you and your family gained from these reflections. 
Option 5: Celebrate St. Nicholas
Learn about the origins of Santa Claus and the gift-giving tradition. Bake cookies and learn more here: https://www.stnicholascenter.org/how-to-celebrate/celebrate-at-home. We remember St. Nicholas on December 6. Homework: Send a picture of your St. Nicholas activities to stcatherinehomework@gmail.com. 
Option 6: Immaculate Conception Mass
Masses for the Immaculate Conception will be held at noon and 7:00pm on December 8th. Homework: Draw or color a picture of Mary, the Immaculate Conception, explain what "immaculate conception" means, and send it to stcatherinehomework@gmail.com. 
Option 7: Our Lady of Guadalupe dramatization
Our annual Mass for the Feast of Our Lady will once again feature a dramatization by our Amigos Club of the appearance of the Virgin Mary to St. Juan Diego, as well our guest musicians Mariachi Relámpago– but this year it will be offered via livestream only! The church will remain closed, since we will be unable to predict or accommodate the often large crowd that attends this Mass; this will also help protect the health of the presenters and musicians. Join us on the livestream page of our parish website on Friday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. for the 2020 offering of this parish tradition. Homework: Watch the Mass and send a drawing or coloring of Our Lady of Guadalupe to stcatherinehomework@gmail.com. Be sure to say what your favorite aspect of the apparition is. 
Option 8: Faith, Family and Food - Make a Meal for Our Lady of Guadalupe
In this video, learn more about the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe and make a tasty brunch to eat together on December 12. Pope St. John Paul II named Our Lady of Guadalupe the Patron Saint of the Americas, saying that she is for "all people." Homework: Send a photo of your family around the table, enjoying this meal, to stcatherinehomework@gmail.com. 
Option 9: The O Antiphons
During the last 7 days before Christmas, the church celebrates and prays for the coming of the Messiah by proclaiming the "O Antiphons," the names of the promised Savior. Download the file to the right to make your own "O Antiphon" ornaments and learn more about this prayer of the church. Homework: Send a picture of your "O Antiphons" to stcatherinehomework@gmail.com. Option 10: Listen to the Ave Maria radio show
Learn more about St. Stephen, the first martyr and deacon of the church, by listening to the "Ave Maria Hour", a series on the Catholic faith created by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement. The series was produced by professional voice actors and ran from 1935 to 1969, with millions of listeners. Episodes are being rebroadcast today through new technology. https://www.atonementfriars.org/ave-maria-hour/ These 30 minute performances will take you back- or maybe introduce you to - the grand era of radio shows. We celebrate the feast day of St. Stephen on December 26, the day after Christmas. *Note: St. Stephen died by being stoned to death. Although this rendition is not graphic or explicit, it does present St. Stephen's death at the end. Parents are advised to take this into consideration.
Homework: After listening to the radio show, submit the questions below. Homework: Submit the form below after you listen to the radio performance.
Option 11: Faith, Family and Food- Special Edition for Simbang Gabi
The festival of Simbang Gabi, or "Night Mass" is a Filipino celebration of a 9-day novena of early morning Masses leading up to Christmas. During this time, vendors sell food to the churchgoers outside. On the last day, Misa de Gallo, or "Rooster's Mass," is celebrated with lights, prayer and community. Learn how to make one traditional - and delicious - recipe for Simbang Gabi, and learn more about this faithful tradition. For more information about Simbang Gabi this year, follow the Diocese of Austin's website: https://austindiocese.org/events/simbang-gabi-3 Homework: Send a photo of your family cooking or around the table, enjoying this meal, to stcatherinehomework@gmail.com. Option 12: FORMED videos
There are so many great movies to choose from during the month of December. Below is a handful of suggested titles. You'll need to log into your FORMED account to watch them. For grades Prek - 6:
For grades 7 and up:
Homework: Submit the form below if you choose to watch a video for one of your December projects.
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parent homework
For December homework, please read Chapters 3 (Breviaries and Other Resources) and 4 (Seven Times a Day I Praise You) of the book and submit the form below.