News - December 2020 RSS Feed

MERRY CHRISTMAS! As we continue to celebrate the Christmas season, today the Church honors and celebrates the FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY. Jesus’ mother, Mary, and His foster father, Joseph, each trusted in the Lord when they accepted the unique start to their family. Though their family faced dangers from the start, they remained united in love and relied on their trust in God. The structure of families has changed over the years, but no matter what our family structure is, all families are called to be holy families. We look to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as a model for our family.

As we begin our last week of preparation for the coming of the Lord, we listen to the Scripture readings today, we observe the preparations three others took during earlier eras. King David intended to prepare a house for the ark of God, but God revealed a more important house to prepare. Saint Paul completed his letter to the Romans, a church he had helped prepare for the mystery of Christ. In the Gospel, once more we hear Mary accept the invitation to bear the Son of God. In these final days of Advent, let us prepare a place in our hearts for the Word of God.

Thank you to all who participated in the Giving Tree program. Gifts and food baskets were delivered Tuesday, December 15. All were greatly appreciated!

Today, the Third Sunday of Advent, is known as Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is Latin for “rejoice” which is the initial word of today’s entrance antiphon. We rejoice today, for the coming of the Lord is so near that we cannot help but think about it. Perhaps we are starting to feel overwhelmed by all that we need to do between now and Christmas. Let this be an opportunity to refocus our attention on the true reason we celebrate this time of year. Rejoice, the Lord is near!

Tuesday, December 8th—a Holy Day of Obligation. Mass schedule: Vigil Mass on Monday, December 7th at 5:00 P.M. Mass on December 8th at 6:30 A.M., 8:15 A.M. (School Mass. If parishioners attend, you are asked to sit in the last few pews of the main section of church or in the day chapel. Because of Covid-19, and physical distancing, the students take up most of the church.) The evening Mass will be a 7:00 P.M. The Church Office will be closed Tuesday, December 8.

Today, on this Second Sunday of Advent, we will hear the beginning of the Gospel of Mark (1:1- 8), where we hear the mandate of John the Baptist: Prepare the way of the Lord! Repent! The message at the end of today’s Gospel offers us hope: “One mightier than I is coming after me.”