November 25, 2009 // Local

Advent activities across the diocese

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Exploring Advent with program ‘Keeping Our Lamps Burning Brightly’ Dec. 5 at Victory Noll  
HUNTINGTON — Advent is a time for preparation and anticipation. This special season will be explored in the program “Keeping Our Lamps Burning Brightly” on Saturday, Dec. 5, at Victory Noll Center.

The Advent program will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will be led by Sue Wilhelm and Sarah Lane. Wilhelm is Victory Noll Center director with years of experience in spiritual direction and retreat facilitation. Lane has advanced certification in spiritual formation and functions as a group facilitator and spiritual director at Victory Noll as well as at her parish, St. Vincent de Paul in Fort Wayne.

The program will use the Gospel of Matthew to explore the contemplative themes of waiting and listening, darkness and light, openness and surrendering. Making an oil lamp will be part of the day’s experience.

Participants are asked to bring a Bible and a journal.

The cost for the program is $25 and includes lunch and materials. Registration is required by Nov. 30.

Victory Noll Center is located at 1900 W. Park Dr. in Huntington.

No one is ever turned away from a program because of the inability to pay. Payment plans and other arrangements may be made by contacting Victory Noll Center.

To register for this program or for more information on this event or other programs at Victory Noll Center, contact Director Sue Wilhelm at (260) 356-0628, ext. 128 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Little Flower to offer Advent day of prayer
SOUTH BEND — Little Flower Parish in South Bend will offer an Advent day of prayer and retreat on Saturday, Dec. 5. The event is themed “Growing in Two Ways of Prayer” and will cover Lectio Divina and Ignatian meditation.

The retreat will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Little Flower Parish Center. Mass is at 8 a.m. with the men’s prayer breakfast at 8:40 a.m. Prayer sessions begin at 9 a.m.

Participants should bring a Bible and a journal. Lunch is not provided.

Contact Jay Landry for further information at (574) 273-9722 or [email protected] by Dec. 2. Child care is available by contacting Landry. Donations are welcome for the breakfast.

Catholic-Lutheran Advent Vespers offered
FORT WAYNE — The Lutheran-Catholic Dialogue Committee is sponsoring the eighth Annual Catholic-Lutheran Advent Vesper Service of Light on Sunday, Nov. 29. The 4 p.m. service will include clergy of both communities in procession and will be held at St. Peter Catholic Church, 518 E. DeWald St. in Fort Wayne. Featured in the service will be a combined adult choir from area Roman Catholic and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America congregations. Refreshments and fellowship will follow in the hall.

Public invited to join a ‘Messiah’ sing along
FORT WAYNE — Handel’s Messiah is perhaps the best known and most memorable of all Christmas music. Played fast or slow, sung well or poorly, it endures forever and is an integral part of the holiday season.

This year the Bach Collegium, the Fort Wayne area’s baroque music ensemble, will host its fourth annual Sing Along of the “Messiah.” Thomas Remenschneider will direct.

Those who attend should bring their own score or borrow a copy that will be available.

The sing along is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, at Queen of Angels Church, 1500 W. State Blvd. in Fort Wayne.

The event is not a concert performance of the “Messiah” or a complete rendition with orchestra. But it is a chance to participate in singing this great work where the audience becomes the choir. It is also an opportunity to learn some background to the “Messiah,” its history, some of the techniques Handel used, and some of the techniques it takes to sing this music. For those who wish, there is a chance to sing one of the solo pieces.

Admission is only $5 and all are welcome. For more information, visit www.BachCollegium.org or call (260) 485-2142.

Advent retreats prepare the heart for Christmas
HARTFORD CITY — The four weeks of Advent help us recall the long preparation of the Savior’s first coming and it aids us in renewing our desire for the second coming. The Advent Scriptures are alive with rich imagery and people who long for a Savior in their lives.

John XXIII Retreat Center will hold several Advent Retreats to help people participate in this season of expectation. On Dec. 4-6 there will be an Advent Retreat entitled: “Waiting with Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph.” This retreat begins on Friday at 6:30 p.m. and will enable people to walk with four Scripture characters of Advent.

The weekend retreat will include presentations by Sister Joetta Huelsmann, PHJC, small group faith sharing, time for solitude, group prayer, journaling, a video and more. The fee for the retreat is $135, which includes overnight, materials and all meals. Commuters fee is $95.

On Saturday, Dec. 12, from 8:30-11:30 a.m. there will be a morning retreat for children ages 4-12, called “Breakfast with Jesus.” This short retreat will give mom and dad a break as the children enjoy a light breakfast, listen to stories from the Scriptures, participate in a craft project, sing various songs and more. The fee per child is $3.

From Dec. 7-11 there will be Advent directed retreats to help people slow down from the fast pace of Christmas preparation. Sister Joetta will be available for one-to-one spiritual direction. Or if solitude is preferred, participants can make a hermitage retreat this week. For the directed retreat it is $72 for a 24 hour day; and for the Hermitage retreat it is $60 per day.

To register for any of these retreats call (765) 348-4008 or e-mail [email protected].

Intercessor of the Lamb conference scheduled
NOTRE DAME — A two-day Intercessor of the Lamb conference scheduled Dec. 5-6, will be held in the campus of the University of Notre Dame’s McKenna Hall — Center for Continuing Education. The theme is “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me.”

Doors will open at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, for check-in and onsite registration. The talks will begin at 9 a.m. The conference concludes on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. A lunch on both Saturday and Sunday will be included in the registration fee, which is adults, $75; college students, $45; priests and seminarians, no charge.

For more information, call (574) 291-3381.

University of Saint Francis hosts Christmas events
FORT WAYNE — University of Saint Francis will host the following events that are open to the public:
Living Nativity
The Living Nativity will be staged in the amphitheater next to the Pope John Paul II Center on the shore of Mirror Lake on Sunday, Dec. 6, at 6 p.m. Parking is available off Leesburg Road. There is no charge for admission. A petting zoo with the animals for the Living Nativity will be available for children from 5-6 p.m. free of charge at the Living Nativity site.

Lighting of the Lake
Vigil lights will encircle the area of Mirror Lake closest to Spring Street for a shining symbol of Christmas Sunday, Dec. 6, at 6 p.m. One or more luminaries may be dedicated to a loved one, in memory of someone special, in recognition of a special occasion, or just to wish a student good luck with final exams at $10 per luminary. Call (260) 399-7700, ext. 6400 to order luminaries by Dec. 1. No charge for admission.

Star of Bethlehem at the Schouweiler Planetarium
Saturday, Dec. 5, at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 6, at 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 11, at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 12, at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 13, at 5 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 18, at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 19, at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 20, at 5 p.m.

The Schouweiler Planetarium is located in Achatz Hall of Science. Parking is available off Leesburg Road. Admission for adults is $4, senior citizens and children under 18 are $3, and a $14 maximum per family.

Ceramics/prints
invitational exhibition

The national invitational exhibition will showcase 30 artists who work either in contemporary ceramics or printmaking Saturday, Dec. 5, through Sunday, Jan. 17. The exhibit is located in the Weatherhead Gallery in the Rolland Center off Leesburg Road. There is no charge for admission. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays 1-5 p.m. The gallery will be closed Dec. 24 through Jan. 3 for the Christmas holiday. For additional information visit www.sf.edu/art/.

Fair trade alternative shopping bazaar
Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) present high-quality fairly traded handicrafts from disadvantaged producers all over the world at the Fair Trade Alternative Shopping Bazaar on Sunday, Dec. 6, from 3-5:30 p.m. in the lobby area of the North Campus, 2702 Spring St.

Choral music concert
University of Saint Francis musical groups will highlight traditional carols and classical arrangements by a variety of composers and arrangers Sunday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m. The concert is at the North Campus Auditorium, 2702 Spring St. No charge for admission.

Saint Francis and the Christmas Crèche
Learn about Saint Francis’ devotion to the birth of Jesus at this beautiful display of Nativity scenes from around the world Dec. 2-15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays only, and Sunday, Dec. 6, from 3-5:30 p.m. This free event will be held in the Lupke Gallery at North Campus, 2702 Spring St.

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