Several activities and services are planned for the Christmas season at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in La Cholla. The first will be on Nov. 27, the start of Advent, with the blessing of the Advent Wreath in the church and individual wreaths for parishioners’ homes.

A favorite tradition in the church is the lighting of the candles on the Advent Wreath, which is steeped in symbolism. The circular wreath stands for the eternity of God, the evergreen boughs represent eternal life and the various decorations can represent perseverance, strength and healing, life and resurrection.

The four candles on the wreath mark the four weeks of Advent with one candle lit each Sunday until Christmas day. The three purple candles represent hope, faith and peace. The pink or rose-colored candle is lit on Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent, and signifies the joy of the coming birth.

On Friday, Dec. 16, at 6 p.m., St. Joseph’s will present the fourth “Reason for the Season” Christmas Concert in the church. This event started in 2018, had to skip 2020 due to Covid, was staged outside last year, but will return to the church for 2022.

The program includes several Christmas hymns by the St. Joseph’s Christmas Choir and songs in both English and Spanish by the students of Professor German Esquer from the Academia de Musica Rafaela Sotelo music academy in Peñasco. There will hymns performed by the youth choir from Holy Family Catholic Church and several solo performances.

The event is strictly Christmas music, no church service will be conducted. The concert will be followed by cookies and cocoa, and a time for fellowship and camaraderie. Admission is free and all are welcome.

Bilingual Mass is offered every Sunday at St. Joseph’s at 8:30 a.m. Since Dec. 25 falls on a Sunday this year, Christmas Mass will be at the regular time, Sunday morning at 8:30.

To reach the church, take the paved road past the Sandy Beach condos and the sand road past Wrecked at the Reef. As you wind toward Cholla Bay, the church is on the right and clearly marked. For information about services and sacraments at St. Joseph’s, contact sexton Bob Keller by e-mail at bob@keller.net or by phone or text at 928-706-6928.

# # #

Cutline:

The Advent Wreath at St. Joseph’s Catholic Chapel in La Cholla, will be blessed, along with those of parishioners and visitors, on Nov. 27.