EDMONTON -- Sometimes the best gifts are not bought at a shopping mall, wrapped in paper and tied with ribbon.

As the unmistakable lights and noises of Christmas began to fill the streets in early December, there was a sense of the inevitable — busy and stressful lives were about to shift into a gift-searching, crowd-pressing, agenda-filled circus.

Christmas is still weeks away and already we’re exhausted.

When Susan Worthington gets home from “Messiah” rehearsals with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir she’s hungry and tired, but her brain is still full of music.

Second Sunday of Advent, Dec. 8 (Year A) Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72; Romans 15:4-9; Matthew 3:1-12

The figure described in Isaiah seems too good to be true — in fact, impossible and non-existent. 

As the calendar flips to December and we enter the Advent season, thoughts naturally turn to Christmas.

Christmas dreams come in all shapes and sizes. Some of them go from pianissimo to fortissimo and hit every note from bass to soprano.

If good things come to those who wait, we’re in trouble. In the age of smart phones, Netflix, instant noodles and instant gratification, who waits? 

Catholics are great story tellers. We love to tell and hear stories that help us understand the world and our faith. 

Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Dec. 30 (Year C) 1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28; Psalm 84; 1 John 3:1-2, 21-24; Luke 2:41-52

Fourth Sunday of Advent, Dec. 23 (Year C) Micah 5:2-5a; Psalm 80; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45

In December 2011 Fr. John Sullivan discovered what Christmas means in the Philippines.

At St. Oscar Romero Catholic Secondary School, students believe the true joy of Christmas is in sharing what you have. 

Christmas may come but once a year, but at the Furniture Bank they keep their eyes and ears open to the season year-round.