Following a well-attended 7 p.m. Mass last Wednesday, close to 100 young — and not so young — adults spent an hour before the Blessed Sacrament focusing on the meaning of Christmas.

Co-sponsored by the diocesan Office of Family Life’s Young Adult Ministry, an advent series focusing on the Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis is taking place every Wednesday during Advent at Blessed Sacrament Church in Alexandria. While the entire parish and diocese are invited to attend these holy hours, the talks, given by Father John Cregan, pastor, are particularly geared toward young adults.

The theme of the talks was suggested earlier in the year to Father Cregan by a young adult. When the Family Life Office contacted him about presenting the Advent series, Father Cregan agreed because he thought it was a good opportunity for young people to focus on the true spirit of Christmas — "that Christ comes to give us this example to imitate."

When people focus on consumerism, materialism and secularism during Advent, Father Cregan said, they tend to forget what the season is truly about.

"He comes to us to reveal the truth, reality, to us," Father Cregan said. "I challenge you to focus your life on Christ and see how demanding that is each day. He lays out a pattern of life, a pattern of love, a high ideal of what to live out each day.

"We come back now as we get into this season of Advent and refocus," he said. "We are brought back to great peace in this season to the humility of Jesus in Bethlehem."

Father Cregan encouraged those who attended to become more humble, like Christ, and to focus on the things in life that are eternal, not worldly goods. Although people may be distracted by things "of the world" during this season of Advent, Father Cregan urged that they rekindle their relationship with Christ and reevaluate their priorities in life.

"The fruitful life is the one where we recognize all the talents we have been given," he said. "The Lord has given us these gifts, but he expects us to use them to bear fruit in the kingdom. (We need to) root out all vice in our life and plant virtue in our heart. We are called, as we imitate Christ, to bring His presence into troubled situations."

Christopher Yurasko, social chair of young adult ministry at Blessed Sacrament, attended the Advent Holy Hour because, "it’s a wonderful opportunity to experience Christ’s love." While the Holy Hour replaced the usual young adult Bible study, Yurasko said, "We still get the community we get in Bible study, but we get it in the presence of Christ."

The Advent Holy Hour will continue on Wednesdays Dec. 14 and 21 at Blessed Sacrament Church, 1427 W. Braddock Rd., Alexandria, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., following the 7 p.m. Mass.