By Emily Clark
Amid flickering candlelight and softly glowing evergreen trees came prayers of thanksgiving, chatter among friends, and a unique message of hope. Advent by Candlelight – An Inspirational Evening drew close to 100 women to the parish center at St. Pius X Church on Saturday evening, December 2. In addition to sharing a meal and fellowship, guests were inspired by the words of keynote speaker Jenny Hubbard, president of the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary which she founded in memory of her daughter who died in the Sandy Hook School shooting.
In the dimly lit room, illuminated only by candlelight, tables set with mini Christmas trees and a tiny creche, fresh flowers and a little St. Nick welcomed those looking to begin this sacred, albeit hurried, season with moments of peaceful reflection. For event coordinator Karen Lannigan, such an intimate experience provided greater reverence to the season as women gathered together in community.
“I feel this is the right way, a beautiful way to start Advent,” said Holly Tilton of Norwalk, who shared a table with her friend Dorece Criscuolo of Easton. “This can be such a loud and busy time, so I really appreciate this quiet and reflective event.”
Criscuolo agreed, saying, “It’s women taking the time and putting the Lord first despite so many distractions in our lives.”
Following the meal, Lannigan introduced Jenny Hubbard, a role model for compassion, she said, whose personal testimony is a witness to faith and hope following the death of her daughter. “The decision to have Jenny as our guest speaker is because her story is so close to home,” Lannigan said. “She inspires women with the singular message that God is with us, no matter what the circumstances.”
While people associate Hubbard with the Sandy Hook tragedy and the loss of Catherine along with so many others 11 years ago, the messages emanating from her stories, though caused by suffering, were those of trust and acceptance. Suffering, she said, is a sacred place where we encounter the true and living God.
“When you hear of someone suffering, let your heart crack open a little bit. That is one way that we grow as Catholic women,” Hubbard said. “Through our suffering, He will always provide a way. We may not always like it, but we must accept it. He is there to protect us. I know this to be true.”
During Advent in another time and place, Hubbard experienced profound suffering – and acceptance. On December 14, 2012, waiting at the Sandy Hook Firehouse for news of her daughter Catherine, a first grader, she received comfort from a friend whom she had met through a Bible study. Her hands tightly gripping a strand of rosary beads, Hubbard prayed, “Dear God, bring her home.” Later that day, she realized that He had answered that prayer, as her daughter was home with Him in Heaven.
“God watched over Catherine and protected me because of the way He allowed me to live my life – through prayer and friendship,” she said, noting the importance of friends who helped her through those darkest days. Looking around at the tables before her, she gave a nod to the power of friendship among Catholic women, saying, “We are made for fellowship. I love seeing gatherings like this.”
For Lannigan, Hubbard embodies the hope experienced during Advent as Christians everywhere await the birth of Jesus. “There is a time and season for everything in our life and there is purpose in our suffering,” she said. “We just have to trust that He will reveal it in time.” Lannigan added that the event also allowed attendees to offer a donation to St. Pius X School and the Hunt Ridge Montessori School in Fairfield.
Father Sam Kachuba, pastor at St. Pius X, said such events “remind us that the Church is a community of communities. As Advent begins, I am very happy to see these women bound by the gift of their Catholic faith. They can look forward, together, to the coming of the Lord Jesus.”
“Lean into our Lord God,” Hubbard said in closing, “so when Christmas comes, you can celebrate.”
