Diocese of Palm Beach Florida

▼ Video Message from Most Reverend Gerald M. Barbarito ▼

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Actions in Peace through ministry in the Diocese of Palm Beach

The Prince of Peace

Isaiah 9:6

To us a Child is born, to us a Son is given… and his name will be called ‘Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God… Prince of Peace’.

Two thousand years ago, the Prince of Peace was born in Bethlehem. His is the power that makes us capable, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, of peace with one another and communion with God Himself. How often Jesus spoke the words Peace be with you after He rose from the dead. These words are often repeated in the Church’s liturgy.

The Church teaches that peace is the work of justice and the effect of charity. It is a goal of Christian living, as indicated by Jesus who taught in the Sermon on the Mount: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. The promotion of peace is part of our Christian vocation.

On that first Christmas, after the angel of the Lord announced the birth of Christ to the shepherds, a multitude of the heavenly host praised God in these words: Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. This is the peace that the world cannot give. It is the peace of Jesus: salvation. It is reconciliation with God the Father. Jesus is “our peace,” Saint Paul teaches. Jesus Himself said to the disciples in His farewell discourse: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you (John 14:27).

It is Jesus who brings true peace to the world. We are called to welcome this gift by welcoming Christ into our lives. Each of us is called to overcome with Christ “the mystery of evil” by becoming instruments of peace.

-Today's Catholic

As this season draws to an end, reflect on how we can experience Christ's peace. This presence is perfectly symbolized in the upcoming Christmas celebrations, but Christ's presence is experienced at any Mass. The Eucharist is the best dispenser of these graces, and we need only reach out to secure them. There are many churches in the Diocese of Palm Beach. Find and celebrate the Eucharist at a Mass closest to you. https://www.diocesepb.org/parishes/

Rest with Trust

Office of Vocations and Seminarians

During this Advent season, the Office of Vocations and Seminarians in the Diocese of Palm Beach reflects the virtue of peace by helping those in discernment rest in the quiet assurance of God’s presence—much like the calm that surrounded the humble birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Discernment can feel uncertain at times, yet the Vocations Office accompanies individuals in a way that helps them slow down, breathe, and trust that God is guiding every step. True peace doesn’t come from having everything figured out, but from knowing that Christ, the Prince of Peace, brings a steady, lasting peace that gently settles into our hearts—just as He did on that first Christmas night.

The Peace of Advent Reflected in the Sacrament of Marriage

Office of Marriage Family Life, Faith Formation and Youth Ministry

The season of Advent invites us into a quiet, hopeful peace—one that mirrors the grace found in the Sacrament of Marriage. Just as Advent calls us to prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming, marriage calls spouses to prepare room in their lives for one another each day. This shared journey of waiting, listening, and loving becomes a living reflection of Advent peace.

In marriage, peace grows through forgiveness, patience, and the gentle daily acts of love that strengthen unity. Advent reminds couples that God enters the simple, ordinary moments—just as He once entered the humble manger. When spouses pray together, serve each other, and anchor their home in Christ, they experience the deep, steady peace that Advent promises.

In this sacred season, couples are invited to slow down, reconnect, and remember that Christ is the source of their peace. His presence in their marriage brings calm amid busyness, hope amid challenges, and a renewed sense of joy as they prepare to welcome Him once again.

Click to learn more about the Marriage Ministry in the Diocese of Palm Beach.

Diocese of Palm Beach Family Life >

Prince of Peace

Catholic Charities DPB

As we enter the final week of Advent, we reflect on Peace, the profound calm that comes from trusting in Christ, the Prince of Peace.
Catholic Charities works to bring peace to our community by supporting pregnant families, the homeless, immigrants, seniors, and all who seek safety, stability, and understanding.
May Christ’s peace fill your homes and hearts as we prepare to welcome Him at Christmas.

Paz

Ministerio Hispano

La última semana del adviento está aquí y con ella, esa sensación de correr a toda velocidad hacia el final del año. Obligaciones, reuniones, compras, planes… todo parece empujarnos a seguir adelante sin tiempo para detenernos. Estamos a puertas de la Navidad… pero…

¿Cómo estás viviendo este cierre de año?
¿Te sientes conectado con lo que realmente importa? ¿O el ruido y el estrés te están robando la paz?

Para mayores recursos:

https://www.crs.org/sites/default/files/documents/2025-10/corona-de-adviento-esp.pdf

Hope for the Coming of Christ

Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery

During this holy season of Advent, we wait in hope for the coming of Christ, the Prince of Peace. In this sacred place of rest, we remember our loved ones who now await the fulfillment of God’s promises. May the quiet of this season remind us that true peace is found in trusting God’s mercy and in the hope of the Resurrection.

As we prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord, may His peace dwell among us and bring comfort to all who mourn. United in faith and prayer, we look forward to the day when Christ will come again in glory, and all who rest here will share fully in the eternal peace of God’s kingdom.

Third Sunday of Advent

Actions with Joy through ministry in the Diocese of Palm Beach

Your Faith has Saved You

Luke 18: 35-42

35 As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth[d] is passing by.’ 38 Then he shouted, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ 39 Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet; but he shouted even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ 40 Jesus stood still and ordered the man to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, 41 ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ He said, ‘Lord, let me see again.’ 42 Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.’ 43 Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, praised God.

This week of Advent, reflect on the Joy your faith in Jesus Christ brings. Receive the sight to see things the way they are and to understand how your faith is a gift from God. Father Mike Schmitz defined joy as the abiding and pervasive sense of well-being. True joy is something that is attainable because it’s not dependent on external circumstances; joy abides within us, regardless of what is happening in the world around us. Find The Key to True Joy, by Maria Riley https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/the-key-to-true-joy

Life Giving Gratitude

Office of Vocations and Seminarians

The Joy of Advent Discovered in the Atrium of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Office of Marriage Family Life, Faith Formation and Youth Ministry

In the Atrium of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, the joy of Advent is discovered in a beautifully simple and child-centered way. Here, children enter a quiet, sacred space where they can prepare their hearts for the coming of Jesus. Through hands-on materials—

like the Prophecy cards, the Annunciation figures, and the model purple vestments—they encounter the mystery of God’s promise with wonder, not rush.

The Atrium allows children to absorb the meaning of Advent at their own pace. They listen to Scripture, ponder the words of the prophets, and reflect on the great anticipation of God’s people. This gentle rhythm nurtures genuine joy—a joy rooted not in the excitement of gifts or activity, but in the growing awareness that God is coming to dwell with us.

In this environment of peace and prayer, children model for all of us what Advent joy truly looks like: quiet expectation, grateful hearts, and a deepening love for the Good Shepherd who guides them—and us—toward the light of Christmas.

Click to learn more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in the Diocese of Palm Beach

Diocese of Palm Beach Family Life >

A Gift that Grows

Catholic Charities DPB

The third week of Advent celebrates Joy, a gift that grows when we share God’s love.
We witness joy in the smiles of families receiving much-needed assistance, in volunteers offering their time, and in communities coming together in generosity and compassion.
This week, at Catholic Charities we choose joy—and help create it for others.

Joy in This Scared Place

Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Cemetery

In this sacred place of rest and remembrance, the joy we speak of is not worldly or fleeting, but deeply rooted in our Catholic faith. A cemetery is holy ground—consecrated, prayerful, and filled with hope. Here, we are reminded of the promise of the Resurrection and the mercy of God, who calls each soul by name.

Our joy arises from faith in Christ’s victory over death. As we pray for the faithful departed, we entrust them to the loving embrace of our Heavenly Father, confident that death is not the end, but a passage to eternal life. This sacred space invites us to reflect, to pray, and to renew our hope in God’s eternal plan.

In remembering those who have gone before us, we are strengthened in our own journey of faith. The silence of this holy place speaks of peace, the Cross proclaims salvation, and our prayers unite heaven and earth. From this ground of remembrance, we draw a quiet yet profound joy—born of faith, hope, and love in Christ Jesus.

Alegría

Ministerio Hispano

El Tercer Domingo de Adviento lleva el nombre de “Domingo de Gaudete”, o “Domingo de la Alegría”. Se denomina así ya que la tercera semana de Adviento parece despertar naturalmente una sensación de ‘cercanía’, de que el más grande acontecimiento está ‘pronto’ a suceder. Es esa experiencia del ‘falta poco’, por la que los corazones se animan, pues el trecho mayor ya ha sido recorrido. La liturgia se encargará de recoger este sentir: la primera palabra que se dice en el introito de la Misa es precisamente “Gaudete", es decir, “¡Regocíjense!”.

Para mayores recursos:

https://www.crs.org/sites/default/files/documents/2025-10/corona-de-adviento-esp.pdf

Second Sunday of Advent

Actions in Faith through ministry in the Diocese of Palm Beach

Here is my Servant

Isaiah 42

Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
    my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him;
    he will bring forth justice to the nations.
2 He will not cry or lift up his voice,
    or make it heard in the street;
3 a bruised reed he will not break,
    and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
    he will faithfully bring forth justice.
4 He will not grow faint or be crushed
    until he has established justice in the earth;
    and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

5 Thus says God, the Lord,
    who created the heavens and stretched them out,
    who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people upon it
    and spirit to those who walk in it:
6 I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,
    I have taken you by the hand and kept you;
I have given you as a covenant to the people,[a]
    a light to the nations,
7     to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
    from the prison those who sit in darkness.
8 I am the Lord, that is my name;
    my glory I give to no other,
    nor my praise to idols.
9 See, the former things have come to pass,
    and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth,
    I tell you of them.

This week of Advent, reflect on your faith in Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 42. When God the Father speaks from the heavens at Jesus’ baptism, he quotes Isaiah 42:1, calling Jesus the one “with whom I am well pleased.”

Read: Matthew 12:18-20 and Matthew 3:13-17. The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows that Jesus is fulfilling the Suffering Servant prophecies of Isaiah. The Messianic king whom God appoints to bring justice to the Gentiles is Jesus himself. He is a new kind of king who comes to vanquish the power of sin and establish God’s righteous law in our hearts. The Suffering Servant is not a lone ranger with a good idea, rather he is appointed to his role by the only ultimately legitimate authority: God himself. This aspect of the Suffering Servant is crucial for us who are trying to model our own lives after the pattern of Jesus. Jesus was sent, appointed, called by God. We too need to find God’s calling for our own lives. The meaning of our work, our family relationships, our role in this world is derived from God’s calling on our lives. Second, the Suffering Servant is approved by God. The Lord not only calls him, but he delights in him.

-Catholic Exchange

Support for the Call

Office of Vocations and Seminarians

During this Advent season, the Office of Vocations and Seminarians in the Diocese of Palm Beach reflects the virtue of faith through the everyday trust that God is at work in the lives of those who are discerning His call. A beautiful example is when we see a family supporting a loved one’s vocation journey, each moment is rooted in the belief that God leads him/her one step at a time. The work of the Vocations Office is built on this steady confidence—that even when the path is unclear, God is faithful, and He continues to raise up shepherds and servants for His Church.

The Faith of Advent nurtures Encountering Jesus in Community with Young Adults

Office of Marriage Family Life, Faith Formation and Youth Ministry

Young adults often move at a fast pace—school, work, relationships, responsibilities. Advent creates intentional space to slow down. Through silence, Scripture, and reflection, they learn to listen for God’s voice in the midst of noise.

Whether through parish events, campus ministry, small groups, or family traditions, Advent reminds young adults that faith is lived in community. Seeing their peers prepare spiritually for Christmas strengthens their own belief.

Click to find a Young Adult Community near you!

Diocese of Palm Beach Family Life >

Living Faith

Catholic Charities DPB

This second week of Advent invites us to deepen our Faith—trusting in God’s promises and answering His call to love our neighbor.
At Catholic Charities, faith is lived daily through compassionate service, welcoming the stranger, feeding the hungry, and walking with the vulnerable on their journey toward healing.
May our faith inspire us to be light for others during this sacred season and beyond.

Faith in this Sacred Space

Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery

A cemetery is sacred ground—a place where our faith gently reminds us that our time on earth is only a temporary journey. Here, among the quiet paths and markers of lives once lived, we remember that death is not an end but a passage into the fullness of God’s promise. In this holy space, we are reassured that those who have gone before us are not lost to us; in God’s love, we remain forever united with them, held together in the hope of eternal life.

Fe

Ministerio Hispano

La fe de cada cristiano tiene siempre un triple horizonte que está llamado a cultivar para vivir con fruto este tiempo de gracia: el pasado, el presente y el futuro. El discípulo de Cristo recuerda que Él ya vino para salvarnos: nació en la fragilidad de un bebé. También, sabe que Cristo viene en el presente: cada vez que ora, que vive la Santa Misa, que se confiesa, etc. Tiene conciencia de que Jesucristo vendrá en el futuro, para instaurar la auténtica paz y justicia, en la que los justos y pecadores serán juzgados.

Para mayores recursos:

https://www.crs.org/sites/default/files/documents/2025-10/corona-de-adviento-esp.pdf

First Week of Advent

Actions with Hope through ministry in the Diocese of Palm Beach

Make Straight Paths for Your Feet

Hebrews 12: 1-13

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,[a] and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of[b] the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners,[c] so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children—

“My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
or lose heart when you are punished by him;
6 for the Lord disciplines those whom he loves,
and chastises every child whom he accepts.”

7 Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline? 8 If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not his children. 9 Moreover, we had human parents to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not be even more willing to be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness. 11 Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.

This week of Advent, place yourself in the grand scheme of salvation history, reflect on what God's promise to send his son means for your life and how we can prepare for Christ's return at the second coming. Place your hope in the Lord, and trust his divine plan.

Read: Romans 5:1-11 - and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Being Lead By God

Office of Vocations and Seminarians

During this Advent season, the Office of Vocations and Seminarians in the Diocese of Palm Beach reflects the virtue of hope in a simple but powerful way—by walking with young people as they discover where God may be leading them. Every conversation, retreat, and moment of prayer is a reminder that God is still calling, still guiding, and still planting new beginnings in our Church. Our seminarians and discerners show us that hope isn’t just an idea—it’s a daily choice to trust that God has a plan for each of us, even when we can’t see the full picture. In their courage and openness, we glimpse the quiet, steady hope that Advent invites us to embrace.

The Hope of Advent within our families

Office of Marriage Family Life, Faith Formation and Youth Ministry

Advent creates hope by turning families toward Christ, grounding them in prayer, strengthening unity, and reminding them that God enters their lives with light, mercy, and promise. Advent activities such as acts of kindness, preparing a nativity scene, or creating a Jesse Tree draw families together. Shared rituals build connection and reinforce the belief that God works through family life.

Unlike the commercial rush, Advent invites families to embrace simplicity and focus on what truly matters. This shift reduces stress and replaces it with hopeful expectation of God’s gift—Emmanuel, “God with us.”

Visit the December Events page to find out what family events are happening around the Diocese of Palm Beach.

Diocese of Palm Beach Family Life >

Hope Shines

Catholic Charities DPB

As we light the first candle of Advent, we welcome Hope—the quiet assurance that God is present and working in every circumstance. At Catholic Charities, hope shines each time a family finds stability, a senior receives care, or a person in crisis discovers support and dignity.
This week, may we open our hearts to hope and extend it generously to those who need it most.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace.” – Romans 15:13

Hope in This Sacred Place

Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Cemetery

Hope reminds us that love never truly fades and gives us strength during life’s hardest moments.

In this sacred place, it becomes a quiet force that carries us through each day, offering comfort when our spirits feel worn.

It steadies us, reminding us to breathe, to pause, and to trust that brighter days will come.

And hope softly assures us that we are never alone, even when our hearts are heavy, guiding us forward with a light that never completely goes out.

Esperanza

Ministerio Hispano

La espera del tiempo de Adviento es sinónimo de esperanza. Te exhortamos a sembrar esa esperanza en los demás a través de un gesto solidario con los que más lo necesitan durante esta primera semana de adviento. Que tu generosidad sea signo de esperanza y símbolo de Jesús, que se acerca a todos.

Para mayores recursos:

https://www.crs.org/sites/default/files/documents/2025-10/corona-de-adviento-esp.pdf