Welcoming Jesus into Our Hearts and Homes

Free and fun Advent resources from Catholic Mom and Family Rosary include an interactive Advent calendar, a Spotify playlist, and a photo challenge.

As we approach the joyous season of Advent, it’s a time for us to prepare our hearts and homes for the coming of Christ. Advent is a season of anticipation, hope, and joy, with many ways we can immerse ourselves in the true reason for the season. This year, Catholic Mom and Family Rosary are excited to introduce several engaging activities to help you and your family make the most of this sacred time, including the SnapAdvent Instagram Photo Challenge, our new interactive Advent Calendar (with three ways to use it), an Advent Playlist on Spotify, and a collection of inspiring eBooks.

SnapAdvent Instagram photo challenge

Keeping Christ the focus of our Advent season can be challenging. Many of us feel the pressure to create the 'perfect' Christmas with all its trimmings and often skip right over Advent! The Snap Advent Photo Challenge, created by my late friend Laure Lynch and me in 2014, has been a fun and inspiring way to redirect our attention to words and images that keep us grounded in Advent for ten years! It is also an innovative and entertaining way to evangelize.

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How to participate in #CMSnapAdvent

All the daily photo prompts can be found on the #CMsnapAdvent graphic located both at the bottom of this article and @CatholicMomCommunity on Instagram and Facebook. Each day snap a photo according to that day’s theme, or honestly whenever you can get to it — Laure was infamous for being days behind and posting a few at a time or skipping them altogether — there is no wrong way to play along! In fact, we know you get busy, so we are utilizing Instagram’s “Add Yours” sticker to allow people to participate by following our stories and adding your photos to our posts! We are especially excited to see responses to our #sweater prompt!

When sharing, be sure to use the hashtag #CMsnapAdvent as well as the day’s theme, such as #Hope on Day One or #Wreath on Day Two. Also, be sure to tag @CatholicMomCommunity on whichever (or both) social platforms.

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Three Advent calendar options

An Advent calendar is a cherished tradition that helps us count the days until Christmas. This year, we’re taking it further with an interactive Advent Calendar offering daily reflections, prayers, discussion prompts, and activities. Download the entire traditional calendar to find the daily activities and check off the days until (and through) Christmas — or this year, you can print one of two paper-chain variations. We hope you’ll share photos of your family’s paper chain masterpieces or while participating in the activities, then share them with us on social media or by emailing the images to me at agingras@hcfm.org!

Interactive Advent calendar

To help your family journey through the Advent and Christmas seasons, we have created an interactive calendar with short, simple activities everyone can do together. There are moments of prayer, suggestions for family conversations and service, and opportunities for creativity and fun.

Double-sided Advent paper chain

Print our countdown calendar using double-sided printer settings. Color each strip, then cut it out and loop it together with glue (tape or staples) to form a chain in order of date. Each day, remove one link (or add one link, whichever your family prefers) to reveal a special activity or prompt for the Advent and Christmas seasons. This hands-on countdown is a meaningful way to incorporate prayer, reflection, and family time into your holiday journey.

Image for Chain with Activities

Single-sided Advent paper chain

Print our countdown calendar on single-sided settings. Color each strip, then cut them out to create your own Advent chain. Enjoy this creative way to bring faith and joy into the Advent and Christmas seasons. The first strip includes a QR code to quickly find each day's themed activities if you wish to include those in your countdown to Christmas!

Advent playlist on Spotify

Music has a unique way of touching our hearts and lifting our spirits. To enhance your Advent experience, our Maria Morera Johnson has curated an Advent Playlist on Spotify filled with beautiful hymns, contemporary Christian music, and instrumental pieces that reflect the themes of the season. Whether you’re driving to work, relaxing at home, or spending time in prayer, this playlist is designed to accompany you on your Advent journey, providing a soundtrack that inspires reflection and joy. You can find the playlist by searching

The list has 100 songs, including music from Marie Miller, who will be playing a special Advent concert at the Father Peyton Center on December 7. The fabulous playlist has a little over 6 hours of play. You can follow the playlist on Spotify or listen right here on Catholic Mom!