. >> and then marian conley, the saint cecilia grammar school in san francisco, been there six years as principal and nearly 30 years as a teacher and also an alumnus of the school, alum that, -- a.m. alumna, i should say. >> and she has a daughter who is nurse. >> pediatric nurse. >> and they will help us understand what our advent is and what preparation for christmas is. >> and someone proposed this advent puzzle to me the other day. in the catholic church, how does new year come before christmas? >> so actually, john, advent is the beginning of the liturgical year in the catholic church. so we start our new church year, i can say happy new year on december 3, because that is actually the first sunday of advent. >> okay. >> and what happens, as we go four weeks, for advent, and then there is actually 12 days of christmas. >> right. >> and then we go into ordinary time. and there is six weeks of ordinary time, which will then be followed by the season of lent, which then leads us to the most holiest of weeks, with the triduum and with easter. and then it ends with ordinary time aga