1st Sunday of Advent

Dear Parishioners,

Today we begin the season of Advent, which marks the start of a new liturgical year for the Church. The readings for Sunday Mass are arranged on a three-year cycle. Each year features a different Gospel— Matthew, Mark, or Luke. Readings from the Gospel of John are interspersed throughout all three years. With this year’s first Sunday of Advent, we begin Cycle B of the Lectionary, which focuses our attention on the Gospel of Mark. This week and next week, our readings from Mark’s Gospel present two important Advent themes: the Lord’s return at the end of time and John the Baptist’s preparation for Jesus. Today’s Gospel reminds us that Advent is about more than our preparation for the Church’s celebration of Christ’s birth at Christmas. Advent is also about preparing ourselves for Christ’s return in glory at the end of time. Like the disciples and the faithful in Mark’s community, we must also stay alert and watchful. Our faithfulness to God, through the good times as well as the difficult times, shows us to be ready for the coming of the Son of Man.

The second collection this weekend is for the Building Maintenance Fund.

The monthly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be on Wednesday, December 6th . Adoration begins at 1:00 P.M. and concludes with Benediction at 6:00 P.M. I encourage and invite you to spend some time in quiet prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. What a perfect way to prepare ourselves for Christmas, as to spend some time with our Eucharistic Lord.

On December 9th and 10th will be the annual Retirement Fund for Religious. Your gift will provide essential care for nearly 25,000 senior sisters, brothers, and religious order priests who have dedicated their lives to serving others.

Have a Blessed Advent Week!