1st Sunday of Advent

Dear Parishioners,

Today, we begin a new liturgical year as we begin the season of Advent. We are invited to reflect on the entire Christian journey of faith to its end goal. On the First Sunday of Advent in all three lectionary cycles, the Gospel focuses on the Parousia, when the “Son of Man will come” (Matthew 24: 44). In Year A, (the one we begin today) Saint Matthew’s Gospel emphasizes how this moment will happen during ordinary things of daily life—eating, drinking, marrying, working, etc. The Advent season is a two-fold character, for it is a time of preparation for the Solemnities of Christmas, in which the First Coming of the Son of God to humanity is remembered, and likewise a time when, by remembrance of this, minds and hearts are led to look forward to Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time. For these two reasons, Advent is a period of devout and expectant delight. (Universal Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, # 39).

The second collection this weekend will be for the new air conditioning unit.

On Thursday, December 1st Deacon Richard Abbondante will celebrate the 10th anniversary of his ordination to the Permanent Diaconate. May God continue to bless him and his wife Diane in their new ministry within the Diocese of Baton Rouge.

Next weekend, the second collection will be for the Building Maintenance Fund.

Have a Blessed Advent Week!