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Dear Friends,
Our Advent journey continues as we celebrate this second Sunday of the season, with the figure of John the Baptist “proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” The person of John is a reminder to make sure our priorities are aligned with those of God, especially during these frenetic days leading up to the great feast of Christmas.
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated this Wednesday, December 8th. This is a very important feast for us as Americans, since under this title, Our Lady is honored as the patroness of the United States. On the feast day itself, Masses will be celebrated at 6:30 A.M. in the lower church and at 8:30 A.M., 12:05 Noon, and 7:00 P.M. in the upper church. This is a holyday of obligation.
This coming Friday, December 10th, beginning at 5:30 P.M. we will gather on our Levick Street lawn, in front of the rectory and the church, where we will have a live Nativity, complete with live animals, and Mary, Joseph, and the Baby Jesus, along with shepherds and wise men, all portrayed by our own students from Blessed Trinity Catholic School. As part of our festivities we will have carols, readings, and prayers which will draw us into the beauty of the Advent season. At 7:00 P.M., in our gym, we will have our Advent Family Celebration, which will include party food, music, arts and crafts, face painting, and pictures with Santa. This evening is an Advent family festival with something for everyone. Please join us, and bring your family!
On Sunday, December 19th, 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 season. This evening will be a fine opportunity for us to gather as a parish family, to sing carols, and to get into the spirit of the season. Please attend with your family members and neighbors!
Please remember those who are in need during this Advent season by taking note of our giving tree, which is located at the front of the upper church. You are encouraged to pick a tag, purchase the item, and return it by December 12th, unwrapped with the tag attached, to our donation containers inside the church. If the gift you pick is beyond your means, kindly return that tag and choose another, as the gifts are from parishioners’ wish lists. The high school C.Y.O. members will wrap the gifts and deliver them.
Available to you at the church entrances are the Little Blue Books for the Advent and Christmas seasons, which contain a short thought for each day of the season. Please take a book home with you, and feel free to take one for a shut-in or neighbor who cannot come to church.
I remind you that the annual Saint Charles Seminary Appeal is taking place at this time. You should have received a direct mailing from the seminary for the appeal, and may use the envelope enclosed in your mailing to send your contribution directly to the seminary, which is the preferred method. For those of you who didn’t receive this mailing from the seminary, or misplaced it, there are extra envelopes available in the vestibule of the church for your convenience. Thank you for your generosity to this important annual campaign.
I remind our lectors that your new Workbooks for Lectors and Gospel Readers are available in the sacristy. Please stop in after Mass to take yours.
Know that you and those you love are daily remembered in my Mass and my prayers.
Love and prayers,
Father Olivere