PENSACOLA |  FORT WALTON |  PANAMA CITY |  TALLAHASSEE
Click the links above to view the 2021 Advent penance times in your area.
Please call your parish if days/ times are not listed. 

Beginning the Church's liturgical year, Advent (from, "ad-venire" in Latin or "to come to") is the season encompassing the four Sundays (and weekdays) leading up to the celebration of Christmas.

The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and also to the anniversary of the Lord’s birth on Christmas. The final days of Advent, focus particularly on our preparation for the celebrations of the Nativity of our Lord (Christmas).

Questions: What are the colors of Advent?

In the Roman Catholic Church, the official liturgical color for most of the Season of Advent is violet. It is used in both Advent and Lent to signify a time of preparation, prayer, penance and sacrifice. Only on the Third Sunday of Advent is a rose (pink) colored candle lit, as a symbol of joy; the priest may also wear rose vestments on this Sunday.

DEVOTIONS

Advent devotions including the Advent wreath, remind us of the meaning of the season. An advent wreath can be purchased or made as a family. The wreath is traditionally a circle of evergreens, symbolizing the eternal and never-ending life we have in Christ. In recent years, advent candles placed in a row on a mantle have become more popular and are an acceptable form of a "wreath" to use in commemorating Advent.

Each of the four candles placed in the wreath has a special significance and deeper meaning:

• The 1st Sunday of Advent is observed with a violet candle, symbolizing hope, particularly hope in Christ's Second Coming.
• The 2nd Sunday of Advent is also marked by a violet candle, symbolizing faith, again in reference to Christ's Second Coming specifically.
• The 3rd Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday. This is the only Sunday in the season that is marked by a rose candle representing the virtue of joy - joy that the time of waiting is almost over and that Christmas is nearly here.
• The 4th Sunday of Advent is the final Sunday and is marked by a violet candle symbolizing peace, a virtue that Christ's Presence brings to us.  

A white candle can be added to the center of the wreath which is meant to symbolize Christ and is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. This is an optional candle and is based on the desires of the family.

An ancient tradition revived in the mid-20th century as an Advent practice, the Jesse Tree represents the family of Jesse, father of King David. Out of this family line, God would take flesh and live among the people of earth. The Gospel of Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus (Mt 1:1-17) names a person from each generation before Jesus’ birth. Stories about these people are in the Old Testament. The Jesse Tree itself can be made from paper, cloth, branches or a tabletop Christmas tree. Make or add an ornament each day of Advent to represent the ancestors of Jesus.

Click here to dive into the season of Advent with these practical and inspirational resources for your family, parish, or school.
Download the 2021 Advent calendar here.

2021 Advent Penance Services

Pensacola Area

Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Pensacola
Wednesday, December 1, 6 p.m.

St. Anne, Bellview
Friday, December 3, 5:30 p.m.

Nativity of Our Lord, Pensacola
Thursday, December 9, 6 p.m.

St. Rose of Lima, Milton
Thursday, December 9, 7 p.m.

St. Anne, Gulf Breeze
Tuesday, December 14, 6-8 p.m.

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Pensacola
Wednesday, December 15, 6:30 p.m.

Little Flower Catholic Church, Pensacola
Wednesday, December 15, 6 p.m.

St. Jude Thaddeus, Cantonment
Friday, December 17, 5-7 p.m.

St. Sylvester Catholic Church, Gulf Breeze
Saturday, December 18, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

St. Paul Catholic Church, Pensacola
Wednesday, December 22, 6:30-8:30 p.m.


Additional Opportunities
Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, Pensacola
Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday, 11-11:45 a.m.

St. Thomas More, Pensacola
Saturdays in Advent from 3-3:45 p.m. before the 4:00 p.m. Vigil Mass: December 4, 11, 18 
Sundays in Advent from 6:15-6:50 p.m. before the 7:00 p.m. Mass: December 5, 12, 19 
Tuesdays in Advent from 5:15-5:45 p.m. before the 6:00 p.m. Latin Mass: November 30, December 7, 14, 21

Fort Walton Area

Christ Our Redeemer, Niceville
Monday, November 29, 6:30 p.m.

Resurrection, Destin
Wednesday, December 1, 6:30 p.m.

Holy Name of Jesus, Niceville
Monday, December 6, 7 p.m.

St. Mary, Fort Walton Beach
Monday, December 13, 6:30 p.m.

Additional Opportunities
St. Peter, Mary Esther
Every Saturday from 8:30-10 a.m. each Saturday except for Christmas and New Year's Day

St. Rita, Santa Rosa Beach
Every Saturday after daily Mass and Sunday mornings during Mass

Our Lady of Victory, Crestview
Mondays 6-7:30 p.m., Wednesdays 6:30-8:00 p.m., First Friday, 9:30-11 a.m. and by appointment

Panama City area

St. Dominic Catholic Church, Panama City
Monday, December 6, 6 p.m.

St. Theresa, Sunny Hills
Monday, December 13, 5 p.m.
 

Tallahassee area

Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More, Tallahassee
Thursday, December 8, 7 p.m.

St. Eugene Chapel, Tallahassee
Saturday, December 11, 2:30-5:30 p.m.

Good Shepherd
Monday, December 13, 7 p.m.

St. Louis, Tallahassee
Tuesday, December 14, 6:30 p.m.

Immaculate Conception, Perry
Monday, December 20, 6 p.m.

St. Thomas the Apostle, Quincy
Tuesday, December 21, 6:30 p.m.


Additional Opportunities
St. Vincent de Paul, Madison
Every Saturday at 3 p.m.

St. Margaret, Monticello
Every Wednesday at 5 p.m.