“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus, that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Endurance and encouragement are words that remind me of what goes into a competitor’s successful completion of a marathon. His or her own physical endurance and the encouragement of those who line the streets to cheer them are essential to completing what would otherwise be impossible. In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul is teaching us that God-given endurance and encouragement are what is necessary for us to think and act in harmony with each other. What does that mean? It means that cooperation is necessary for good to exist, and that cooperation requires God-given endurance and encouragement.
The Advent season is focused on the revelation of the incarnation of Christ in the human experience. Very often, the hardest place for us to recognize the abiding presence of God is in our relationships. Tension, distrust, arguments and discord make their way into our families and friendships because we lack the endurance we need to “put up” with each other. As we pray for the patience we need to await the Lord’s coming, let us also pray for patience in our relationships. Enduring illness, addiction and economic struggle are heavy burdens on any relationship, and it is hard to see God in these difficult situations. As people of faith then, who await together, let us encourage each other’s endurance with our prayer and our action.
SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION – On Monday, December 8, we celebrate the Holy Day of Obligation honoring the sinless conception of our Blessed Mother so that she might be a suitable dwelling place for the Son of God. The Mass schedule is as follows: Monday, December 8 – 7:30 and 9:00 am and 7:30 pm.
NATIONAL NIGHT OF PRAYER FOR LIFE – Immediately after the 7:30 pm Mass on Monday, our parish will participate in the National Night of Prayer for Life. This holy hour of prayer will include Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Pro-Life Rosary Celebration, and Solemn Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament.
LESSONS & CAROLS – Our annual celebration of Lessons and Carols for Advent and Christmas will take place next Sunday at 3:00 pm. The afternoon will feature our bell ensemble, youth and adult choirs and musicians.
ADVENT EVENING OF PRAYER – This Wednesday, December 10, we welcome back Fr. Lachlan Cameron, our former associate pastor, for our monthly parish Holy Hour. This hour of prayer will focus on Eucharistic Adoration, Advent Scriptures and Praise and Worship music. Please take the time to spend an hour praying together during the hectic days of this season.
ADVENT ANGELS PROGRAM CONCLUDES – Gift Cards and unwrapped winter clothing with their tag should be returned to the 10 am Family Mass or to the Rectory by December 7.
NEW PATIO – Thanks to Genstar Masonry & Landscaping Design and their owners, Michael Gentile and Scott Mirsky, for the generous donation of labor and materials to create our new outdoor welcome patio. Eagle Scout Ronan Elliot had funds remaining from his Stations of the Cross Eagle Scout project, and he approached Genstar about the possibility of using the funds to create a welcoming patio outside the northeast entrance to the church. Genstar responded with an offer to do the project for free, allowing Ronan to apply the funds to new refrigeration units in Parish Social Ministry and the School.
PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD – IN THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION – Please consider the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the season of Advent. Confessions are scheduled to take place on Monday to Friday after the 9:00 am Mass, Saturdays at 4:00 pm, Tuesday, December 16 7:00 – 9:00 pm, and Monday, December 22 2:00 – 4:00 pm and 7:00 – 9:00 pm.
Peace,
