Journeying Towards Justice:
A Daily Anti-Racist Advent Calendar
Advent is a time for preparing your heart for the coming of Jesus. It is traditionally a time of hope and of honoring family traditions. This Advent, we challenge you to prepare your own heart for the on-going Gospel work of living into our Parish Statement on Racial Justice. We hope this advent calendar helps you and our community to grow into the call to build the beloved community, to serve as active disciples combatting racism in our hearts and our world.
Several additional notes: This advent calendar is being offered in lieu of a menu of options from our Ignatian Advocacy Team. This site is formatted for a computer rather than mobile viewing. You can access a printable PDF of this calendar here.
Several additional notes: This advent calendar is being offered in lieu of a menu of options from our Ignatian Advocacy Team. This site is formatted for a computer rather than mobile viewing. You can access a printable PDF of this calendar here.
Week One: Exploring Anti-Racist Solidarity
Sunday, November 28Wednesday, December 1Support Black-Owned:
Order a tasty treat from Tiana’s Cheesecake Wonders! Saturday, December 4Act:
Join Church of the Resurrection (1619 California Ave.) for a mass (Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 10 a.m.). |
Monday, November 29Listen:
Watch Fr. Bryan Massingale’s interview with America on Racism and White Privilege in the Catholic Church. Thursday, December 2Advocate:
Join A Mighty Stream for interfaith action on racial justice in Cincinnati (bottom of page). 
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Tuesday, November 30Learn:
Look at the Race and Racism in Cincinnati Toolkit from the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center (and look for connected film screenings at Bellarmine in the new year!) Friday, December 3 |
Week Two: Building Anti-Racist Connections
Sunday, December 5Pray:
Breathe deeply as you read Dismantling Racism in my Family of God. Wednesday, December 8Support Black-Owned:
Stop by BOL Acai Bar for lunch today. Saturday, December 11 Act:
Attend Hallebrations 2021, 10 a.m-4 p.m. - a Black-Owned business Christmas bazaar at New Vision United Methodist Church |
Monday, December 6Listen:
Watch the Heartbeat of Anti-Racism with Dr. Ibram X Kendi. Thursday, December 9Advocate:
Sign up to receive AMOS Project advocacy alerts from local faith organizers focused on racial and economic justice. 
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Tuesday, December 7Learn:
Consider how unintentional microaggressions might be perceived in your language with this chart. Friday, December 10Discern:
Pray the Bellarmine Examen on Racism. |
Week Three: Engaging in Anti-Racist Actions
Sunday, December 12Wednesday, December 15Support Black-Owned:
Visit Davis Cookies for some holiday treats. Saturday, December 18Act:
Find out more about inequities in the cash bail system from The Bail Project here in Cincinnati and make a donation if you can. |
Monday, December 13Listen:
Watch lawyer and author Bryan Stevenson’s Ted Talk on the justice system. Thursday, December 16Advocate:
Review the Cincinnati CAN (Communities Act Now) equitable development platform and take action. 
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Tuesday, December 14Learn:
Explore Race and the City - Solutions for Cincinnati with BDRT Member Melanie Moon. Friday, December 17Discern:
Pray the Bellarmine Examen on Racism. |
Week Four: Practicing Anti-Racist Love
Sunday, December 19Wednesday, December 22Support Black-Owned:
Grab a cup of coffee or tea with someone you love at Cream + Sugar near campus. Saturday, December 25 (Christmas Day)Act:
Enjoy today with your loved ones, sharing something you learned this advent! |
Monday, December 20Listen:
Watch Yvette Stevens share how Love Gets Me Through. Thursday, December 23Advocate:
Visit the USCCB Ad Hoc Committee on Racism site to read Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love, especially pages 17-20 entitled Love Goodness, then consider how you might advocate for this love amongst your fellow Catholics. 
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Tuesday, December 21Learn:
Explore how to talk to the children in your life about racism with PBS Kids (and try it out if you can!) Friday, December 24 (Christmas Eve)Discern:
Pray the Bellarmine Examen on Racism. |
Hopefully, this is not the end of your journey towards racial justice. You can explore more resources for your journey on our Dismantling Racism Team Resource page and join with your fellow parishioners at our Dismantling Racism Team meetings on the 4th Tuesday of the month, 6 PM, via Zoom. Contact our Director of Social Mission, Tim Severyn, to be involved.
Thank you to all who contributed to the assembly of this calendar, especially our Social Mission Core Team, Dismantling Racism Team, and Anne Schoelwer, Kim Navaro, Mickey Townsend, and Clare Burke Ravizza.
Thank you to all who contributed to the assembly of this calendar, especially our Social Mission Core Team, Dismantling Racism Team, and Anne Schoelwer, Kim Navaro, Mickey Townsend, and Clare Burke Ravizza.