Dear Parishioners,

As we enter into the Advent season, a reminder that we are going to be singing the Mass together for these weekends of Advent. This is what the church envisions for the Sunday celebration. I hope you can experience this as an invitation to heighten the Mass. I also want to remind you that I have decided to celebrate Mass ad orientem the last two weekends of Advent at all the Masses (OLF won’t look any different because they always have both options). This came out of a discussion with my advisement team. We felt that having a shared experience was more helpful rather than having a distinction between 8:30 and 10:30 Sunday Masses. So just note that those last two Sundays of Advent we will celebrate ad orientem. As I mentioned in the bulletin last week, we won’t be singing the Latin creed during Advent either, we are going to try to learn to sing the creed in English first during the Christmas season. This comes from a desire learn to 

sing the Mass as it is outlined in Musicam Sacram, a document that guides music in the Mass. 

Advent is a season of waiting and expectation. We should try to get into the season by spending some time in quiet and contemplation. I know I say it every year, but I guess it is worth repeating… Advent is not Christmas. They are two separate seasons. So, while the secular world looks to create an economic boom around the gifts and décor that belong to the Christmas season… we as Catholics should try to enter into this Advent with a quiet contemplation of preparing for the Lord to come into our lives. This is paddling upstream in our culture. I would encourage you to try to find ways to enter the stillness in your own home. Get an advent calendar, an Advent wreath, or an Advent reflection book. Take time to enter into this season of waiting. Don’t be in a rush to get to Christmas, despite the whole world playing Christmas music and having Christmas décor up from Thanksgiving to January. Stay with Advent until it is time to be in Christmas. 

This coming Wednesday December 3rd I want to invite you to a special event we are hosting for the Jubilee Year. Fr. Scott Padrnos, our diocesan vocation director will be here to give a presentation on the Jubilee and talk about how we can experience the special graces offered us. He will also bring with him a relic of Msgr. Joseph Buh, who was a missionary and patriarch of our diocese. This event is open to anyone. I would invite you to come to the dinner at 5:30-6:15 and then join for the talk and night of Jubilee. The Jubilee ends on Dec. 28th and so we wanted to give a chance to experience this special Jubilee year one more time. 

There will be a Christmas Market hosted by the Council of Catholic Women this coming Saturday, December 6th. You may come to get Christmas cookies and other baked goods, and homemade crafts. 

Mark your calendars for our Night of Beauty on Sunday December 21st . The evening starts at 5:30 with vespers, and then our penance service will be held at 6 PM. There will be a choir singing as part of the evening as well. Come enjoy a night of prayer and beauty with our Lord.

This week we have 1st Friday Masses at 8 AM SJ, and 9 AM at OLF, and first Saturday Mass at 8 AM at SJ. Feel free to stay and visit the Christmas Market after 1st Sat. Mass.

A reminder of the holy day that is coming up on Monday December 8th. Masses will be held at 9 AM OLF, Noon and 6 PM at SJ. This is a holy day of obligation as we celebrate the Immaculate Conception of Mary our mother. 

Blessing on the start of your Advent season.

In Christ,

Fr. Eli