Nov 24, 2024

Greetings,

This is CHRIST THE KING Sunday, and as such, it ends the liturgical year. Next week begins Advent and the anticipation of Jesus coming at Christmas. Afterwards, we enter
into Ordinary Time until we hit Lent and the preparations for the Passion, Death , and Resurrection of Our Savior. This is once again followed by Ordinary Time marking the
life of Christian growth that we experience until, once again, we celebrate Christ the King Sunday , which anticipates Jesus’ coming again in power to establish Himself as King of the Universe. Then all things will be made new, and God’s Kingdom will be fully and permanently established.

This feast was established in 1925 (just three years before our parish was founded, so it is a relatively new feast day) by Pope Pius XI. It not only points toward Christ coming at the end of time, but also, since Jesus is fully God and fully human, makes the point that all in heaven and on earth are subject to Him. And to follow Him is sanity since He is not just a source of being but is being itself and to be loyal to Him is to embrace all that is good for us, His creation.

IN OTHER NEWS:

ADVENT BEGINS NEXT WEEKEND: You have a few days to pull together your Advent wreath, your Advent calendar, and any another prayers and traditions that you and your family celebrate during this season. As we typically have done, there are a limited number of Advent candles available in the narthex.

THANKSGIVING: This Thursday our nation celebrates Thanksgiving. Our nation gives thanks for the harvest and other blessings of the year. For Catholics it has an even deeper meaning. The word, eucharist, itself means thanksgiving. We have a clear idea of from where all our blessings come and are in relationship with the One to Whom we owe thanks. For those of you who can make it, Thanksgiving Mass will be at 9am. This is always one of my favorite Masses to celebrate as the spirit of celebration is enhanced by those being there wanting to give thanks in this most august way. If you can, come be part of this privileged way of giving thanks to God before joining in your Thanksgiving celebrations wherever they may be.

OFFICES CLOSED: The rectory offices will be closed from Wednesday, November 27-Friday, November 29.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK: Saturday, December 7, following the 4:30pm Mass, Fr. Marcelli will be available to anoint the sick.

HEADS UP: This is an early heads up so that you can plan your schedule. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is on December 8, which is a Sunday. This feast day is never skipped because it is under this title that Mary is the patroness of the United States. Since Sunday takes priority in the liturgical calendar, the feast day is moved to
Monday, December 9th. Typically, when such a thing happens, it is no longer a holy day of obligation when it falls on a Saturday or a Monday. That is now changed for this feast day! It has been determined that NO MATTER WHAT DAY THIS FEAST FALLS ON, IT WILL BE A HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION FOR THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES. This just came to our attention about a month ago. It is an interesting twist in the calendar. It seems that more typically we are in the habit of relaxing such things, but here is a case of encouraging more participation in the liturgical life of the Church. So, this year, in addition to attending the Sunday Mass, each of us will also have to attend a vigil on Sunday night or on that Monday. More on that to follow.

WE GIVE CATHOLIC: We Give Catholic is coming up on December 3. The funds collected online this year will go toward fixing up the bride room, adding a speaker in the narthex, and making improvements to the Quiet Room.See elsewhere in the bulletin for details.

God bless,
Fr. Valencheck