The Church Year begins with ADVENT, a season of preparation for the Lord’s coming. The season consists of the four Sundays before Christmas. Advent derives from the Latin adventus, which means ‘coming’. The season proclaims the coming of the Christ - whose birth we prepare to celebrate once again, who comes continually in Word and Spirit, and whose return in final victory we anticipate. Each year Advent calls the community of faith to prepare for these comings; historically, the season was marked by fasts for preparation.

The liturgical colour for this season is purple symbolising penitence and preparation.