News - December 2023 RSS Feed

Here we are, at the end of 2023. It has been a year of many blessings for our parish, yet this year we experienced some significant losses and tragedies. This is true of any year. Of course, but somehow it seemed more poignant this past year. Red more.

Happy Fourth Week of Advent! The Christmas festivities begin in less than twenty-four hours. I hope that you do not have too much wrapping, and especially shopping, to do in the meantime. This is a hectic time of the year, and it seems to have just flown by. Read more.

This is it -- one more week and we are at Christmas Eve. It seems that December has just flown by. Read more.

We certainly were fortunate to have the best night of last weekend for our annual Christmas Tree lighting festivities. A huge thank you to all who attended and to those who work so hard to make sure that everything runs so smoothly here. The memorial tree project of the Knights of Columbus also helps to beautify our property and celebrate the advent and Christmas seasons. At the tree lighting Santa Claus made a surprise visit and we are happy that Santa has taken the time to come back to our church this weekend for breakfast and to visit the children and their parents. Please feel free to say “hello” to the jolly old elf this weekend after the 8 and 9:30am Masses. Read more.

This weekend we begin a new liturgical year and our preparations for the Christmas Season ahead. I do not think that I am alone in noting that it seems that this year many homes were fully decorated and lighted before Thanksgiving. Given the starkness of this time of the year -- the days drawing ever shorter and the leaves all but gone -- I am a huge fan of anything that illuminates the darkness. I am also not one of those who shuns the celebration of the Christmas holiday during Advent. We have already experienced the joy of the Incarnation of the Word at the first Christmas. Our preparations for the secular holiday should not serve as a hindrance to our need and ability to spiritually prepare ourselves for the Holy days and season ahead. We do have many opportunities for spiritual preparation for the Season. Read more.