By Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) – Suggestions for daily prayer, reading, reflection and action throughout the Advent and Christmas seasons and other resources are part of a new web site created by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The site, www.usccb.org/advent, features interactive online calendars with a menu of resources for each day of Advent, which began Nov. 29, and the Christmas season, which ends Jan. 10 with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

Featured throughout the calendars are video clips of USCCB members and staff discussing their favorite Old Testament stories, passages and characters.

The site includes Scripture resources focusing on the Old Testament; recommendations on holiday-themed movies from the USCCB’s Office for Film & Broadcasting; selections from the conference’s publication “Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers;” and suggestions for remembering the needs of immigrants and the poor throughout Advent and Christmas.

Also available are printable calendars in English and Spanish with ideas for daily family activities to mark the two seasons.

The site is decorated with photos of sanctuaries adorned for Advent and Christmas from across the country, including the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. There also are photos of seasonal events from several Catholic dioceses.

The U.S. bishops’ Department of Communications created the site with funding from the Catholic Communication Campaign.