Advent marks the beginning of the new liturgical year and is a season of wise preparation and joyful anticipation of the coming of Jesus Christ.

As a Catholic school system, St. Mary Catholic Schools (SMCS) is afforded the blessing of celebrating this sacred season of Advent with students, staff, families, parishes, and the greater school community. Students across grades at SMCS celebrate the season with classroom activities and lessons, the celebration of the Sacraments including Reconciliation services and weekly school Masses, and other opportunities for prayer, reflection, service, and learning to help our students best prepare their hearts for the birth of Christ. Advent wreaths, Nativity scenes, and other sacred reminders of this holy season sprinkle our campuses, shine light on the message of hope of Christ’s coming, and serve as a reminder of our responsbility to share the light of Christ in the world. May our Catholic schools be a beacon of such light and hope!

There are multiple opportunities to take part in this sacred season with SMCS:

First Friday Mass and Eucharistic Adoration

December 3, 2021, 7:20 a.m.-3 p.m.
St. Mary Catholic High School Chapel
All are invited to First Friday Mass at 7:20 am. on December 3 with celebrant SMCHS Chaplain Fr. Mark Mleziva. Eucharistic Adoration follows Mass until 3 p.m. in the chapel. Sign up for an hour or stop by any time throughout the day to spend some time with the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception Masses*

December 8, 2021, All Campuses

St. Mary Catholic High School Weekly School Mass
Jane Bergstrom Fine Arts Education Center (FAEC), SMCHS
December 8, 2021, 11 a.m.
Parents are welcome to attend. Currently, high school Mass attendees are required to wear masks while in the FAEC. (It may be standing room only.) Please enter and sign in/out at the high school front office.

St. Mary Catholic Middle School
Jane Bergstrom Fine Arts Education Center (FAEC), SMCHS
December 8, 2021, 9:45 a.m.
Parents are welcome to attend SMCMS Mass. Currently, middle school Mass attendees are required to wear masks while in the FAEC. (It may be standing room only.) Please enter and sign in/out at the high school front office.

St. Gabriel Elementary
St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, 900 Geiger St., Neenah
December 8, 2021, 12:15 p.m.
Parents, guests, parishioners, and others are welcome to attend. Please follow parish guidelines regarding physical distancing, masking, and other protocols while in church. Masking is currently not required at the parish. Please enter through the parish doors.

St. Margaret Mary Elementary 
St. Margaret Mary Parish, 620 Division St., Neenah
December 8, 2021, 8:00 a.m.
Families are welcome to attend. Please follow parish guidelines regarding physical distancing, masking, and other protocols while in church. There is both a mask required section and mask recommended section on the far north side of the church for parishioners.

St. Mary Elementary
St. Mary Parish, 528 Second St., Menasha
December 8, 2021, 8:10 a.m.
Families are welcome to attend. Please follow parish guidelines regarding physical distancing, masking, and other protocols while in church. Please enter through the parish/link doors.

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

December 12, 2021, 2 p.m.
St. Mary Parish
Hosted by the Neenah-Menasha Catholic community and all five parishes, all are welcome to celebrate a Mass for the Third Sunday of Advent for the intention of thanksgiving for the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This year marks the 490th anniversary of the Blessed Mother appearing to St. Juan Diego in Mexico. Fr. Phil Schoofs will be the celebrant. A social gathering featuring traditional Mexican food will take place after Mass in Msgr. Hummel Hall at St. Mary Parish. Confessions: 1-1:45 p.m.; Rosary: 1:30 p.m.; Bilingual Mass: 2 p.m.; Social Gathering: 3 p.m./following Mass.

Divine Mercy Chaplet

December 14, 2021, 9:30 a.m.
St. Margaret Mary Elementary/Parish
All parents, staff, parishioners, etc. are welcome to join the students and staff in praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet in the parish.

School Community Rosary

December 20, 2021, 8:15 a.m.
St. Mary Catholic Middle School Chapel
All parents, staff, parishioners, etc. are invited to participate in a Rosary on December 20 at 8:15 a.m. at the SMCMS Chapel. Whether you pray the Rosary daily or it’s been awhile, all are welcome! SMCS Director of Ministry Eric Rudd will lead the Rosary, with coffee, breakfast treats, and casual fellowship to follow. During this month of the Immaculate Conception and as we await the joyful coming of Christ at Christmas, what a beautiful way to pray for the intercession of our Blessed Mother together as an SMCS community. No RSVP required.

Weekly School Masses

*Please note that the week of December 5, school Masses will be celebrated on Wednesday, December 8, 2021, for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception instead of the days/times listed below. Join us the below days/times other weeks as noted on school calendars on our website.

St. Mary Catholic High School Weekly School Mass
Jane Bergstrom Fine Arts Education Center (FAEC), SMCHS
Thursdays at 11 a.m.
Parents are welcome to attend SMCHS Mass. Currently, high school Mass attendees are required to wear masks while in the FAEC. (It may be standing room only.) Please enter and sign in/out at the high school front office. SMCHS Chaplain Fr. Mark Mleziva celebrates these Masses.

St. Mary Catholic Middle School
Jane Bergstrom Fine Arts Education Center (FAEC), SMCHS
Thursdays at 9:30 a.m.
Parents are welcome to attend SMCMS Mass. Currently, middle school Mass attendees are required to wear masks while in the FAEC. (It may be standing room only.) Please enter and sign in/out at the high school front office. One of the priests from our Neenah-Menasha Catholic parish community celebrates these Masses.

St. Gabriel Elementary
St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, 900 Geiger St., Neenah
Thursdays at 8:15 a.m.
Parents, guests, parishioners and others are welcome to attend St. Gabriel school/Thursday daily Mass. Please follow parish guidelines regarding physical distancing, masking, and other protocols while in church. Masking is currently not required at the parish. Please enter through the parish doors.

St. Margaret Mary Elementary 
St. Margaret Mary Parish, 620 Division St., Neenah
Thursdays at 8:00 a.m.
Families are welcome to attend Mass with St. Margaret Mary Elementary. Please follow parish guidelines regarding physical distancing, masking, and other protocols while in church. There is both a mask required section and mask recommended section on the far north side of the church for parishoners.

St. Mary Elementary
St. Mary Parish, 528 Second St., Menasha
Fridays at 8:10 a.m.
Families are welcome to attend Mass with St. Mary Elementary. Please follow parish guidelines regarding physical distancing, masking, and other protocols while in church. Please enter through the parish/link doors.

Other Opportunities

From Advent wreath ceremonies to Christmas singalongs, our campuses and schools are hosting a variety of other activities too. Please view school calendars here, check your bi-weekly school e-newsletters, or reach out to your child’s teacher or principal regarding additional happenings.

Parish Happenings

Please check out the websites of the Neenah/Menasha Catholic community and parishes for an abundance of Advent season and Christmas faith formation, Mass, prayer, Reconciliation, and other offerings:

St. Gabriel the Archangel
St. Margaret Mary
St. Mary
St. John the Baptist
St. Patrick

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “The Church never tires of singing of the glory of this night.” May we as an SMCS community prepare our hearts this Advent season, so we are well prepared and ready to join in the choirs of angels in singing of the glory of Christ’s birth on Christmas night!