The 12 days of Christmas ends on the Feast of the Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day, which marks the day the magi visited the baby Jesus. Father William "Jud" Weiksnar, OFM, and a small team from SS. Columba-Brigid Parish on Buffalo's West Side celebrate the day with a European tradition of visiting and blessing houses of their parishioners.

On Dec. 1, St. Louis Church, the oldest Catholic parish in Buffalo, became the new home for Buffalo's Weihnachtsmesse. That's German for Christmas Mass.

The gospel reading for this coming fourth Sunday of Advent recounts Mary's "hasty" visit to Elizabeth (Lk 1:39-45). Many reflections on this passage focus on Mary and rightly so since verse 42 is in the first part of our Hail Mary.

The poet T.S. Eliot once wrote, "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go." Taking a risk and entering the unknown begins a great adventure whose final destination is unknown and whose results cannot be calculated. God took a great risk and began a great adventure when he decided to send Jesus to the world.

ORCHARD PARK — On Dec. 26, St. Bernadette Parish is hosting an Inclusive Christmas Mass from 7-7:30 p.m. This Mass is designed for families with children and adults who have special needs. These families are living examples of Christ's love and his nearness to the most vulnerable among us. The Open Doors Committee, who advocates for parishioners with disabilities planned the celebration.

St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo, has scheduled a number of celebrations during the Advent and Christmas seasons.

The Response To Love Center is collecting everyday cleaning supplies that will be distributed to the people in need during our Christmas Eve dinner.

Prayer is one of the most important things a Christian can do. It is a way of communicating with God. Prayer does not have to be complicated or difficult. It can be as easy as a conversation with a good friend.

DENVER, COLO. (CNA) - "Insincerity was an evil which sprang up within the Church from the first," wrote Blessed John Henry Newman in 1839. "Ananias and Simon were not open opposers of the Apostles, but false brethren."

The Western New York community is invited to begin the Advent and Christmas seasons by participating in the annual vespers service, a holiday tradition at Christ the King Seminary, on Sunday, Dec. 2. The service will begin at 4 p.m. in the seminary's St. John Vianney Chapel.

Even the most avid of readers might pick up a book that intrigues them, and desire so badly to get into the book that they skip the preface. If we skip the preface during the Christmas season, we might miss the heart of the Christmas message. In St. John's Gospel, the well-known preface says, "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us." God, who existed before time, broke through both time and space, and entered humanity. In Jesus, God became manifest as He revealed Himself in a complete way.

Father Bill Quinlivan, prolific writer, musician and minister, has done it again with a new CD out in time for Christmas. Titled "Jump for Joy," this is Father Quinlivan's eighth CD. Having published "Made to Praise Him" in 2014 and recently been named pastor of two parishes in Buffalo, you might wonder how he does all this.

Between Advent and all of the preparations for Christmas, December becomes one of the busiest months of the year, especially for a parish staff. Some believe that all of the happenings and "to-dos" distract us from the true meaning of the season. But I think that the true meaning of Christmas is made even more real by the very experiences we sometimes take for granted or that might even seem like distractions. For example: given the choice between watching a Christmas movie with all my cousins or taking time alone in prayer, I am hands down going to choose movie time. Even though prayer is an important part of spiritual preparation, time with family is a blessing and a reminder of how close to God we can be. The festivities we look forward to, the food we eat, and the family we see are experiences that help us fully realize an inward, spiritual celebration that builds with anticipation during Advent and that we celebrate on Christmas.

St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo, has scheduled a number of celebrations during the Advent and Christmas seasons.

"Shhh. The baby is sleeping." Every parent of a newborn has whispered these words. Christmas is our whispering season. Christmas quiets the world. It is time to do what God did for us. It is time to share the Son of God with the world, quietly. God knows, a whisper is sometimes the best way to get a message across.

Ah, December. Turn up the radio and hear those ring-ting-tingling Christmas Carols. By definition, a carol is a song of joy or mirth often pertaining to religious joy. Although mostly associated with Christmas, they originated with pagan festivities surrounding the winter solstice. Those same festivities brought us the Christmas tree and kissing under the mistletoe.

What's on the top of your Christmas tree: an angel or a star? And what would the Christmas scene be like if we only had Luke's Gospel? Or only Matthew's? Only Luke has the angel appearing to the shepherds, while only Matthew has the star leading the Magi.

As our season of Advent begins, it almost seems like we are late to the party. After all, Christmas has been a part of what has surrounded us in our culture for weeks already. We have lived through Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday, and on and on. We have been bombarded with Christmas music, Christmas movies, Christmas party invitations, Christmas sales and Christmas decorations.

The Sister Mary Josette Food Pantry at Villa Maria College packed two-hundred bags of holiday meals for food pantry clients with the help of the News Neediest Fund run by The Buffalo News. The Fund purchases holiday meals with the help of cash donations, which are then distributed to food pantries by the Food Bank of WNY.

Not everyone has the luxury of enjoying a hearty dinner surrounded with family on Christmas day. Many people locally have no family in town, or no family at all. Others are unable to afford a meal, especially for a family. Local meal providers such as Meals on Wheels and the Warming House are not open that day.

Advent is upon us. While the world seems to be a frenzy of Christmas shopping, traveling, decorating and entertaining, the Church presents us with a unique traditional alternative: a season of reflection, preparation and penance as we anticipate the birth of Christ.

Advent is a time for us to prepare for the joy of the birth of our Savior. John the Baptist came to announce the coming of our Messiah and said, "I am the voice that is crying out in the desert; make straight the way of the Lord."

The acclaimed Lira Ensemble of Chicago returns to Buffalo with a new production: "A Polish Holday! Carols, Song & Dance," on Saturday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m. at UB's Center for the Arts, 103 Center of the Arts.

Advent is the time of year when we prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of the Lord's birth on Christmas, and there are many things we can do to ready ourselves. We can attend daily Mass, pray or use an Advent wreath. Even watching special programing can help put our minds and hearts in the right place.

A Live Nativity will bring the Christmas story to life during Hilbert College's 20th annual Christmas celebration from 2 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 3. The celebration will include a children's Christmas party, complete with a visit from Santa, following the nativity.

Harmonia continues its tradition of a cappella Advent and Christmas music, performed in the beauty of candlelight.

Christmastime is always special at the Response to Love Center in Buffalo, and this year will be no different. Director Sister Johnice Rzadkiewicz, CSSF, is especially tuned in to what people need through prayer, and believes that her mission is to go where God is leading her. For the last few years, the focus has been on the specific needs of locals.

"There's something very special about Midnight Mass on the Birthday of our Lord," said Bishop Richard J. Malone, as he celebrated Midnight Mass of the Lord's Nativity at St. Joseph Cathedral. Bishop Malone recalled staying up to attend Midnight Mas even as a child. "My Mom would always make sure I slept for a while so I was alert as an altar server at Midnight Mass."

Christmas reflections from Bishop Richard Malone and the readings and homily from the Christmas Televised Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Edward Grosz. Also music from the Voices of Mercy and Father Bill Quinlivan.

This winter, Catholics should not just prepare with rock salt and shovels, but also begin preparing their hearts for the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Coloring books for adults have exploded onto the bookstore scene in the past two years. What was once considered a hobby for the kids is now all the rage for people who are full-grown.

Bishop Richard Malone talks about the joy of Christmas and mentions Christmas TV Masses available for those who are home bound.

We pray with our sons about waiting for Christ at Christmas and listening for His voice or feeling His presence. "What does He sound like? How will I know He's talking to me?" they ask. It's difficult to answer. I haven't felt God's presence in a long time.

With the fourth Sunday of Advent approaching, the liturgical season of preparing for Christmas is well underway.

Most of the leaves were still on the trees on Saturday, October 22, when nearly 200 people assembled in the historic chapel and shrine at Our Lady Help of Christians in Cheektowaga to celebrate a Christmas Mass that will be shown across the nation on Christmas week.

Christmas projects from Daybreak TV Productions, including Come Let Us Adore Him, Christmas Mass on ABC, and an Our Daily Bread Christmas special.

St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo, has scheduled a number of celebrations during the Advent and Christmas seasons. The St. Joseph Cathedral Choir will present a Festival of Lessons & Carols on Monday, Dec. 19, at 7:30 p.m., under the direction Organist-Choir Director Tim Socha.

Advent is upon us. While the world seems to be a frenzy of Christmas shopping, traveling, decorating and entertaining, the Church presents us with a unique traditional alternative: a season of reflection, preparation and penance as we anticipate the birth of Christ.

Father Roy Herberger, pastor of SS. Columba-Brigid Church in Buffalo, has collected Nativity sets from around the world for years. We photographed a small sample of the amazing collection in our photo gallery.