Dear Friends,
We celebrate this weekend the Third Sunday of Advent, traditionally known as Gaudete Sunday, which literally means “Rejoice.” This is taken from the first line of the Introit, or Entrance Chant, of the Mass for this Sunday: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again, rejoice!”
This beautiful reminder is taken from the Letter to the Philippians, and calls us to remember that, not only are we more than half way through our Advent celebration, with Christmas a little more than one week away, but our salvation is also close at hand, for the Savior who brings us God’s life and love is always near to us, and will, indeed, return one day, as He promised, to gather all of us who believe into the fullness of God’s reign. (Sometimes this Sunday is known as Rose Sunday because of the color of the vestments worn on this one day of the Advent season.)
I remind you that this Thursday evening, December 17th, at 7:00 P.M. in the lower church, we will be celebrating our Advent Parish Penance Service. There is, in my opinion, no better way to prepare our hearts for Christmas than by celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance). Going to confession allows us to celebrate the Savior’s birth with mind and heart renewed. We will have a number of kind and gentle priests here to celebrate the sacrament with you. I guarantee you that you will not be judged, or lectured, or certainly yelled at: you will be welcomed with open arms, and simply given an opportunity to experience the power of God’s love and grace. It is a perfect opportunity to start fresh in these final Advent days. Please join us, and bring a friend or two!
I remind you that we hear confessions every Saturday from 3:15 to 4:15 in the lower church, and that we will be hearing confessions on Saturday, December 19th, from 2:45 to 4:15 P.M. in the lower church. This will be the final opportunity to celebrate this great sacrament before Christmas.
On Sunday, December 20th, at 7:00 P.M., we will be celebrating the ceremony of Lessons and Carols in our upper church. This beautiful liturgy is a wonderful way for us to celebrate the Advent season. This evening will be a fine opportunity for us to gather as a parish family, to listen to the Advent and Christmas scriptures and other readings, to sing carols, and to get into the true spirit of the season. Please attend with your family members and neighbors!
Please remember our Christmas schedule: Christmas Eve Masses are at 4:00 (if the number of people is very great we will have a second 4:00 Mass in the lower church for safer social distancing), and 6:00 P.M. and 12:00 MIDNIGHT; Christmas Day Masses are at 6:30 and 9:15 A.M. and 12:00 NOON (please note that the Christmas Day Masses are the regular Sunday schedule).
Please take note of our complete Christmas schedule, which is printed elsewhere in this bulletin. Remember to invite someone to join you for the celebration of this great feast here at Saint Timothy’s. Everyone has a place here!
Please remember our Church of Saint Timothy Stewardship Restoration Appeal, which we officially began several weeks ago. This appeal is, for this year, taking the place of our annual census/block collection. As part of this initiative I am asking all the members of the parish, either as individuals or as households, to commit themselves to making a sacrificial gift to help us sustain Saint Timothy’s in our day-to-day and month-to-month operations, as well as to assist us in completing several capital projects which we have, of necessity, put on hold because we simply haven’t had the funds to do them. You should have received a direct mailing from me, explaining the appeal and asking you to prayerfully consider making a sacrificial gift. I am happy to report that, as of this writing, we have already collected over $30,000 from you, our generous parishioners. If you have not yet made your contribution or pledge to this important effort, I ask you to please do so. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me at the rectory.
Know that you and those you love are daily remembered in my Mass and my prayers.
Love and prayers,
Father Olivere