CRS Fair Trade: Encountering Advent

Join CRS Fair Trade this Advent as your family, community and parish prepare for the coming of Christ. We invite you to reflect on the journey that brought Mary and Joseph to the stable and call to mind all those communities around the world that continue to encounter poverty in their daily journeys.

Pray

Pray for our brothers and sisters around the world as you enter into the liturgical season of Advent. CRS Fair Trade has four prayers for various traditions and occasions that can be incorporated into your Advent journey. Begin your celebration with the Advent Wreath Prayer and join together as a family as you light the candle each week. Another focal point in the home and parish is the nativity. Continue honoring the ancient tradition of the Christmas crèche with the Nativity Scene Prayer, reflecting on the Holy Family and Christ’s love for one human family. Other prayers for the season include: Our Lady of Guadalupe Prayer and the Fair Trade Sale Prayer. Celebrate the feast of Our Lady on December 12, praying for her intercession of peace and justice. And, if you are holding a CRS Fair Trade Community Order with your friends and family, incorporate the Fair Trade Sale as part of your gathering.

Reflect

Come together as a family or faith group to deepen your understanding of scripture and learn about our brothers and sisters in need. Four weekly reflections help to break open the Gospel readings for each Sunday of Advent, while incorporating stories of communities from around the world. Each weekly reflection can be found here:

Act

Use the 

Gift of Hope Tree

 with children to reflect on how Christ was born into poverty, and how this relates to the reality of many other families around the world. Or, simply print out the 

Gift of Hope Tree Ornaments

 and hang them on a tree in a school or parish gathering space. If your parish or school already coordinates a giving tree activity for your local community, consider adding these Gift of Hope Tree ornaments to your tree and inviting people to remember their local and global family at Christmas. This Advent, as you pray and reflect on our global family, consider purchasing fair trade gifts. Give a gift that gives twice this Christmas and provides support to artisans and farmers around the world. For more information about CRS Fair Trade Advent Resources, please visit 

crsfairtrade.org/advent

To shop fair trade products for your family and friends, visit 

serrv.org/crs

2015 © CRS/Roberto Rojas.  All Rights Reserved.