Dear Parishioners;
Today, the third Sunday of Advent, is known as Gaudete Sunday or rejoice Sunday. Traditionally, the liturgical colors for this day is “rose” or pink. The third candle, the pink one will be lit today along with two of the purple candles. Our Scripture readings today are readings of hope for a future that is bright with promise. Isaiah announces a year of favor from the Lord in which all manner of suffering is soothed. Saint Paul reminds us to rejoice, to pray always and to give thanks in all circumstances. In Saint John’s Gospel, we hear that the Light has come in to the world, and it cannot be extinguished.
Senior religious sisters, brothers, and religious order priests across the country send heartfelt thanks and prayers for your donation to last week’s Retirement Fund for Religious.
The second collection this weekend is for the Christmas Flowers. The money collected from this collection will help defray the cost of the decorations for the Christmas season.
Next weekend’s second collection will be for the church roof. I continue to ask for your generosity with the roof collection.
Before you know it, Christmas will be here. The 4th Sunday of Advent is approximately 24 hours this year. At the beginning of the Advent season, a flyer with the Christmas Mass schedule was inserted in the bulletin along with an explanation about the celebration of Masses on the 4th Sunday of Advent and Christmas. I won’t repeat the entire explanation, but the bottom line is that you must attend Mass either on Saturday or Sunday morning to fulfill your Sunday obligation. You must attend Mass on Christmas eve afternoon or Christmas morning to fulfill your Christmas obligation.
The Mass schedule for Christmas is: Christmas Eve Vigil Mass on Sunday, December 24th at 5:00 P.M. Mass on Christmas Day will be at 12 Midnight and 9:00 A.M.
Have a Blessed Advent Week!