Advent by Candlelight 2024

6 Dec

Advent by Candlelight 2024

UPDATE: All tables are reserved. If you would like to be on our waiting list for individual spaces, call the office at 309-682-8642. If no answer, leave a message at extension 2112.

Advent by Candlelight is an enchanting evening as women gather together in joyful anticipation to celebrate the coming of the Messiah. The banquet room is transformed into a candlelit wonderland, complete with an inspirational speaker, reflection, music, and delicious food and drinks. This year’s theme is “Be Still.”

We look forward to welcoming Sister Mariam Caritas  (Elizabeth) McMurray, Sister of Life and St. Philomena alumna as our guest speaker. Peoria Notre Dame choir members will perform and Sister Mary Rose, Dominican Sister of St. Cecilia, will lead us in a closing Advent meditation.

Now is the time to invite friends and family to make up a table of eight women. Ladies decorate their table with an Advent theme with lots of candles for lighting. Each table is asked to provide:

• Wine or other beverage for your table.
• Dessert to serve 10-12 people to share with everyone.
• Hors d’oeuvre for your table.

The event begins at 6:30 p.m., doors open at 6:00 p.m. A full meal will be prepared for us by the St. Philomena Men’s Club.

Reservations are required, as space is limited. Registration is open Nov. 6-25, 2024. Cost per person is $20.

How this all works….

Hostesses

• Reservations are required for this event due to limited seating.
• Starting Wednesday, Nov. 6: Register by calling the parish office at 309-682-8642. Registration closes Monday, Nov. 25, 2024 at 4 p.m. The cost per seat is $20.
• It is easiest if you register all of your guests with you. Notify your guests that you are registering them so they don’t register twice. Tables are eight people maximum.
• If you don’t have all of the names at this time, that’s OK. We’ll talk through that when you call to register. If you do not have a full table, we will look to seat people with you, as we do have people who attend unattached to a table group. Welcoming new people to your table is a lovely gesture and means a lot to those needing a seat.
• Decide the table theme and decorate on your own or with your table guests. Be creative and have fun. No glitter or glittered decorations!
• Provide eight place settings (plates, napkins, silverware, wine and water glasses, coffee cups/saucers).
• Disposable coffee cups will be provided if you prefer to use those. We will also provide clear, plastic plates to use on top of your china so that you aren’t transporting dirty plates at the end of the night.
• Don’t forget the candles! Candles should be on drip plates, in vases or with a protective cloth/doily. Votive, tea light or pillar candles only. Please no taper candles.
• Assign two people from your table to bring desserts serving 10-12 people and shared with everyone in attendance.
• Assign two people from your table to bring Hors d’oeuvre for your table to enjoy.
• Please remember, no glitter or glittered decorations!

Guests bringing wine/beverages:

• Bring enough wine to last your table for two hours.
• You can decide or ask table mates what type of wine they prefer.
• Don’t forget your corkscrew, and chiller if desired.

Guests bringing hors d’oeuvre

• We recommend asking one-to-two guests to bring an appetizer for your table mates to snack on before dinner.
• Can be homemade or store bought – make your favorite holiday finger foods: mini quiches, crostini, skewers are some ideas.

Guests bringing desserts

• We recommend asking one-to-two guests to bring a dessert to be shared. Desserts will be shared with all in attendance on our buffet table.
• Provide homemade or store/bakery-bought dessert, enough to serve 10-12 people. Cookies, pies, cakes, cupcakes, special holiday dessert….anything festive.
• Plate your dessert on platter/stand as it will be presented on the buffet table.
• Bring the dessert, cut and ready to serve. Place it on the table set up for desserts.
• Pick up any dishes before leaving for the evening.
• Since the Men’s Club is using the kitchen to prepare dinner, we will not be able to cut and plate your dessert. Please pre-cut your dessert. There will be dessert plates for guests can serve themselves. Whatever container you bring them in is how they will be served. For example, if you bring cookies on a tray, the whole tray will be put on a table. If you are bringing a cake, please pre-cut the cake and it will be served from that container.

Decorating / Set up

• The banquet room will be available from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5 and 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6. All tables must be decorated by 1:00 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6.
• Tables can have a maximum of eight people.
• Tables will be covered with a white tablecloth, you may layer on top of that cloth if you wish.
• A place will be available to store your tub/items.
• Please remember, no glitter or glittered decorations!

End of night / Clean up

• All place settings and decorations must be cleared and taken home at the end of the evening on Dec. 6.
• Each hostess is responsible for cleaning up her own table.

How to register

• Beginning Nov. 6, call the office at 309-682-8642.
• Registration closes Nov. 25.
• Cost per seat is $20, ($160 per table of eight).
• You will be asked your guests’ names, please have them available when you call. If you don’t know all of your guests when you register, that is fine.
• Payment can be made online (we’ll send you the link after you register) or bring a check or exact cash to the parish office by Nov. 25.
• Office hours are 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Contact Person: