SMALL GROUPS FOR ADVENT

By: Renée Culverwell, Discipleship Lead

 Why should you join a Small Group this Advent?

There are at least twelve reasons I can think of for joining a Small Faith Sharing Group during Advent 2026, but for this bulletin insert, I am happy to share three with you. The first reason to participate in a Small Group during Advent is to prepare for the birth of Christ with like-minded and faith filled people. During the season of Advent, Catholics are called to:

Pray, spiritually Prepare, and Fill their hearts in joyful anticipation of Jesus Christ's first coming at Christmas and his promised second coming. 

The way I see it, joining a Small Group takes care of all three: Pray, Prepare and Fill. Let me explain, you will pray more WITH your Small Group and FOR the members of your group. When you join a Small Group, you will be filling 90 minutes of your free time each week, a joy that will help you spiritually prepare. You will also be filling your heart with Joy because you will be asked to care for and be attentive to the members of your group. How will you fill hearts in joyful anticipation? You can offer to say an opening or closing prayer, you can provide a snack for one of the meetings, and you can give of yourself by sharing your faith and your life with the members of your group.

Another reason for joining a Small Group is to form new relationships. It’s wonderful to meet new people and even better when the new people you meet are faith filled li

We will start off listening to Bishop Barron about Advent and then turn our attention to a Series called “Behold” by Sister Miriam James Heidland. Behold means to look at or see something with close, focused attention. To hold with your eyes. “A sight to behold” is an expression we use to describe something very impressive or beautiful. “Lo and behold” is an exclamation of surprise to introduce an unexpected event or a surprising outcome or something divine.

I know what you are thinking, Advent is before Christmas and that’s a busy time for me. Yes, it is, which is exactly why you should make time to Pray, Prepare and Fill your heart with anticipation for the Lord. You are invited to hold this Advent with your gaze, rather than just glance at it.

The last and most important reason for joining a small group, in my opinion, is that sharing our faith deepens our faith and our life. I love this quote from the previous book we used for Small Groups: “We help people meet Jesus not only because He makes our lives better but also because He makes us better at life.” 

Every time I share my faith, whether it’s at a retreat, during Disciple’s Road, at a witness talk, in a classroom or in a small group, I feel that my faith grows. My convictions grow stronger and I realize and understand more. A Small Faith Group is a place where you can be strengthened and encouraged by other people’s faith. I hope you will join a Small Group this Advent! Sign-ups will take place for two weeks, from October 19 to November 2.