Advent Event Brings Visitors to the Mothers’ Shrine

An estimated 275 visitors from around the Lake and beyond joined the Mothers’ Shrine and St. Patrick Catholic Church for “O Holy Night” , A Special Festival of Lights event held on Sunday, December 10, 2023.

Visitors were met by lights, carolers and St. Nicholas and held off the cold by enjoying hot cocoa indoors and a bonfire outside! A Live Nativity featured volunteers portraying the Holy Family, angels, a shepherd with a baby lamb, and the Magi. The Nativity Story was proclaimed by from the Gospels of Luke and Matthew by the Mothers’ Shrine Chairman four times throughout the evening to new crowds each hour. Children were engaged in Advent and Nativity crafts inside St. Leo’s Hall, where guests enjoyed hot cocoa and delicious cookies.

The entire event took place within the context of our beautiful Christmas light display, the Festival of Lights, one of the first public Christmas light displays in the area started by Fr. Fred Barnett around 1980! Visitors were able to view the lights on display by walking the Mothers’ Shrine campus.

The entire event was a beautiful Advent celebration, helping us wait in joyful anticipation for the birth of the Light of the World, Jesus Christ!

We are especially thankful for our volunteers who served in our Live Nativity, helped with the warm drinks, smore’s, made cookies, lifted their voices as carolers, assisted with the crafts, worked on the set up and clean up, managed the parking, and contributed one and all to a very enjoyable, blessed evening!

The drive thru Festival of Lights remains on display each evening from 5:00-10:00pm until January 7, 2024. Fridays, we also offer hot cocoa and candy canes to guests from 6:00-8:00pm. Come out and see us!