As the season of Advent began, parents and children of Saint Joseph Church were invited to gather in the Parish Center to share some time together and create inspirational decorations for their homes. The first Sunday of Advent is considered to be the church’s “New Years Day”, starting the new liturgical year. The observance of Advent is traced back to as early as the fourth century. It is a time of penance and preparation, of readying oneself to welcome the Christ Child at Christmas. It is celebrated as a season of joyful and spiritual expectation. During the four-week long period of Advent the color purple, the liturgical color of penance, is used in church decor. As Christmas arrives the somber purple is replaced by the celebratory Christmas adornments.