Advent and Christmas at Mary Our Queen Parish

1st Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 3 (regular Mass times)

Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Holy Day of Obligation
Thursday, December 7 at 7 pm (vigil)
Please note: we will not have 12 Noon Mass on Thursday, 12/7.
Friday, December 8 at 8:30am and 12 Noon

2nd Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 10 (regular Mass times)

Advent Penance Service
Monday, December 11 at 7pm (No mass, just Confession. We will have several priests available to hear confessions).

Lessons and Carols
Friday, December 15 at 7pm

3rd Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 17 (regularly scheduled Mass times)
Advent Confession Time offered after the 8:30am Mass around 9:45 to 10:30am

Ember Days at Mary Our Queen
Prayer, Penance & Fasting
Confessions offered Wed., Dec. 20, and Friday, Dec. 22, from 11 to 11:45 am before the noon Masses in addition to our regularly scheduled Saturday confession time on Dec. 23 from 3:30 to 4:25 pm, which is the last opportunity for confession at MOQ before Christmas

4th Sunday of Advent
Saturday, December 23 at 5pm (vigil)
Sunday, December 24 at 10am
Please Note: we will not have 8:30am or 11am Masses on 12/24
as we will also be celebrating Christmas Eve Masses.

CHRISTMAS EVE MASSES
Sunday, December 24th at 4 pm*, 7 pm, & 10 pm
*Mary Our Queen’s children will perform a Christmas Play at 3:45 pm just before the start of the 4pm Christmas Eve Mass

CHRISTMAS DAY MASS
Monday, December 25th at 10 am
Please note: we will not have 8:30am Mass on Monday, 12/25.

Please Note: The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, falls on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, and is not
considered a Holy Day of Obligation. Mass will be held at 8:30am on Jan. 1st.

Remember the Embers—Prayer, Penance & Fasting!

By tradition, there are four times a year, called Ember Days, when Catholics pray, do penance, or fast/work for the poor. Observance of these days is encouraged because they are great times of seasonal change when Catholics can voluntarily pause and reflect on the Lord’s mercy and call for conversion. The Advent Ember Days follow the Feast of St. Lucy and are Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday of the following week. We invite all who are interested to make these days special in some way. Father Byrd will hear confessions from 11 am to 11:45 am before the noon Masses on Wednesday, Dec. 20, and Friday, Dec. 22 in addition to our regularly scheduled Saturday confession on  Dec. 23 from 3:30 pm to 4:25 pm. Even if you cannot come to Mass or go to confession, you can mark the Ember Days in your own way: fasting from one meal, praying for our confused world, and thanking God for his great mercy as we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Messiah! To learn more, watch this video HERE

Join the Liturgical Arts Ministry for the Hanging of the Greens
Various Tasks and Times Are Available!
Please Sign up HERE. We will confirm with you via email providing instructions.

Thank you!

 A Service of Lessons & Carols

Friday, December 15 at 7 pm in the Church

 Featuring MOQ’s Adult Choir, Schola Choir, and Youth Choir along with Organ and the MOQ Instrument Ensemble.

Scripture passages recount the fall of mankind, the promise of the Messiah, and the anticipation of the Nativity of Christ.  Each lesson is followed by a choral piece, soloist, or congregational carol that helps us reflect on the Scripture message. Please join us – Free and open to all!

Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Holy Day of Obligation

Vigil Mass
Thursday, December 7 at 7 pm
No Noon Mass  on Thursday

Holy Day Masses
Friday, December 8
8:30am and 12 Noon
The Parish office will close at Noon on Friday, 12/8

Walking With Purpose Invites all Women to an

Advent Holy Hour with Benediction

Wed., December 6th | 7 to 8 pm

Take a break from the holiday rush for just one hour to be with Jesus. “The time you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the best time that you will spend on earth. Each moment that you spend with Jesus will deepen your union with Him and make your soul everlastingly more glorious and beautiful in heaven, and will help bring about an everlasting peace on earth.”– Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Parish-Wide Community Outreach Project: Winter Break “Family Food Box” Drive
Benefitting Families in Need at Peachtree Elementary
Boxes will be distributed after the December 2nd and 3rd Masses to take home, fill, and return before or after Masses the weekend of December 9th and 10th.
The Counselling department at Peachtree Elementary has requested our help in sending home a Family Food Box to 200 families before the Gwinnett County School’s winter break. The non-perishables will help supplement daily meals while the kids are home for 2 weeks.  As a community outreach project, we are asking parishioners to provide all the items for one complete Family Food Box by purchasing the items listed below:

1 Jar Peanut Butter
1 Plastic Jar Jelly (no glass)
1 Box of Saltines OR Spreadable Crackers
2 Boxes of Noodles
2 Cans Soup
2 Boxes Mac & Cheese
2 Cans Tuna
1 Bag Rice
1 Bag of Black Beans
1 Can of Veggies
1 Plastic Bottle of Spaghetti Sauce (no glass)
1 Can Fruit
1 Box Cereal/Oatmeal

If you are unable to donate a completed box, we welcome donations of any items on the list. Volunteers will fill boxes with your donations.Thank you for helping us meet our goal of 200 Family Food Boxes!

Angel Giving Tree & Saint Nicholas Adopt-a-Family Christmas Program

‘Tis the season to think of others! Christmas is fast approaching and the families in our community need our help to give them hope and encouragement in this season of giving. The Mary Our Queen Angel Giving Tree and the St. Nicholas Adopt-a-Family Christmas program are beautiful ways to spread the Christmas spirit. We encourage you to prayerfully consider participating as a family in one or both of these heart-warming programs.

The Angel Giving Tree
Select an “angel” gift tag or two from the trees that we will display in the church after all masses on the weekend of December 2-3. Return the unwrapped gifts with a tag attached to the church by the date designated on the tag.

The St. Nicholas Adopt-a-Family program
As of 11/30, we need 2 to 3 more families to adopt or co-adopt a St. Vincent de Paul family for the Christmas season. Sign up via the form below ASAP.

Questions? Please contact us through the form below:

Help Fill Our Beautiful Sanctuary with Poinsettias This Christmas!
Remember a friend or loved one by donating to the Christmas Flower Decorations
HOW TO DONATE: Fill out a Christmas Flower Decorations envelope found in the narthex, and enclose cash or check (payable to MOQ-Christmas Decorations). THE SUGGESTED DONATION IS $25 PER NAME. Drop in the offertory basket, mail it, or return it to the office.

You may also donate electronically at Online Giving under the “Altar Flower” category. If the donation is made online, Please complete the form below with the names of your loved ones to be listed on our display. Donations must be received by Sunday, December 10 for your loved one’s name(s) to appear in front of the Sacred Heart Devotional.