Weekend of December 18-19, 2021

Dear Friends,

I remind you that tonight (Sunday, December 19^th) at 7:00 P.M., we will be celebrating the ceremony of Lessons and Carols in our upper church. This beautiful liturgy, which will feature all of our choirs, is a wonderful way for us to celebrate the Advent and upcoming Christmas seasons. This evening will be a fine opportunity for us to gather as a parish family, to sing carols, to listen to the Scriptures and other sacred readings of the season, and to get into the true spirit of what it is we celebrate at this blessed time. Please attend with your family members and neighbors!
           
It is hard to believe that we will be celebrating Christmas in just a few days. The excitement and joy are certainly in the air!

            As Christian people, it is important that we keep things in perspective. Maybe the economic difficulties and the lack of peace that we continue to face, along with the multiple other crosses with which we are confronted, as a Church and as a global community, can serve as a reminder to us of what is important. We often preach the fact that we need to “keep Christ in Christmas,” and that “Jesus is the reason for the season.” Times like these we are living in, however, literally force us to remember this reality. Jesus truly IS and NEEDS TO BE at the center of our Christmas celebration. This reminds us as well that he needs to be at the center of our very lives, each and every day. Making Jesus the center of our lives reminds us that it is only he who will gain us the eternal life which should be our ultimate goal in life. As we contemplate his presence among us, especially at Christmas, we should realize how we are indeed greatly blessed.

            In these final hours of Advent, amidst all of the final card writing, gift buying and wrapping, decorating, cooking, baking, and the hundreds of other tasks that we are about, let us not forget to prepare for the great feast of light by preparing room in our hearts for the newborn Jesus. The best gift we can give to Jesus (and to ourselves) on his birthday is receiving him in Holy Communion. Let us remember to prepare ourselves appropriately to receive this greatest of gifts on this most joy-filled feast. As we celebrate God’s goodness to us in so many ways during these final days of Advent, let us also not forget the poor. Sitting at our Christmas table with family and friends, let us pray for those who have less than we, so that the blessings of Jesus, the Word-made-flesh, will touch them in a profound way, also. Wouldn’t it be a great thing to invite someone who would otherwise be alone to have Christmas dinner with your family?

            Once again, I make a request. Why not take the opportunity in these final hours of Advent to invite someone in your life to “come home for Christmas,” to join us for Mass on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Perhaps this person is a son, daughter, spouse or other family member, a co-worker, a neighbor, or a friend. This person may have been hurt in the past by the Church or they may simply have lapsed in the practice of their faith. Let them know that coming to Mass at Saint Timothy for Christmas will be an uplifting and beautiful experience, and that they will be welcomed with open arms. YOU may be the instrument God uses to get them back to church. Let them know, through your simple but sincere invitation, that God loves them and so does the Church.

            You have seen, through many different venues, our Christmas Mass schedule for this year. Masses on Christmas Eve will be celebrated at 4:00 P.M., 6:00 P.M., and 12:00 MIDNIGHT in the upper church. On Christmas Day, we will follow our regular Sunday schedule: Masses will be celebrated at 6:30 A.M. in the lower church, and at 9:15 A.M. and 12:00 Noon in the upper church. Please join me in welcoming with open arms and hearts our visitors and our family members who are coming home for Christmas.

            As I contemplate this Christmas the many gifts God has given me, I count among the very best gifts this wonderful parish and you, the wonderful people who ARE Saint Timothy Church. I am privileged to be able to call myself your pastor. I love you and pray that God will continue to bless you and all those you love with abundant gifts, especially during this holy season. 

Know that you and those you love will be especially remembered in my Masses and prayers on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

                                                                                    Love and prayers,

                                                                                    Father Olivere