The Augustine Institute Invites the Faithful to Enter Advent with Purpose in New Limited Series
How to Advent is a four-part video series exploring the meaning and sacred traditions of the season
Ahead of a season that can feel rushed and commercialized, the Augustine Institute invites Catholics to pause and enter Advent with renewed purpose and joyful expectation. How to Advent, a new four-episode video series, explores the beauty and meaning of Advent traditions in an engaging and meaningful way—helping viewers prepare their hearts for our Lord’s birth. The series is now available on Formed, the Augustine Institute’s streaming platform for faith formation.
“Amid the flurry of extra activities, parties, and shopping, it’s easy to let Advent pass by unnoticed,” said Dr. Scott Hefelfinger, Director of Content Development at the Augustine Institute and a featured presenter in How to Advent. “All too often, our culture sees it simply as the four hectic weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, rather than a time for reflection and spiritual preparation. It can be a struggle for Catholics to approach the season with intentionality.”
Following the success of the Augustine Institute’s popular How to Lent series earlier this year, How to Advent invites viewers to discover the heart of the season in four 8–10 minute episodes. Each installment highlights a different cherished Advent tradition—the Advent Calendar, Advent Wreath, Jesse Tree, and Nativity Scene.
Hefelfinger, who is also an Associate Professor at the Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology, is joined by a diverse group of voices—including fellow professors, priests, and religious sisters—who serve as Advent “spiritual directors,” offering practical guidance and spiritual reflections for the season. The series is hosted by Augustine Institute Studios Editor and Producer Solenne Santiago, whose lively and relatable style brings the conversations to life. Viewers also hear from laypeople, sharing the unique ways they prepare for Christmas.
“It’s important to understand what Advent is, how it plays a key role in our preparation for Christmas, and why we should prepare!” added Hefelfinger. “How to Advent is designed to be accessible to all Catholics, guiding us into the season with deeper intention and meaning.”
How to Advent is available on demand through Formed and the Formed app, alongside the wide range of trusted Catholic content the platform has offered since 2015. Formed subscribers can access a supplemental one-page reflection guide for each episode. Additionally, new episodes will be released weekly on YouTube.
