Dec 14, 2023

Greetings, 

The fourth week of advent will only consist of a handful of hours. This weekend we light the third candle, the rose one, on our advent wreath. It is Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday, which is a signal to us that the coming of the incarnation of the Lord is right around the corner. Generally, I dislike having Christmas decorations up in the church
before we start the actual Christmas season, but with Christmas hitting so quickly on the heels of the Fourth Sunday of Advent, it is a bit of a necessity. So, you will see Christmas breaking out of the cracks a bit early this year. Thank you to our arts and environment crews for your long work that benefits all of us in our celebrations.

IN OTHER NEWS: 

CONCERT: Another reason many of our decorations will be up early is because Sunday, December 17 at 7pm is our Christmas Candlelight Concert. This will be Lynn Steward’s last Christmas concert with us as Director of Music. I marvel at the quality of music we get to enjoy as we worship and how many people in the world never get to hear such beauty. We get to hear it regularly and performed by our brothers and sisters in the parish. I am so looking forward to this concert and I hope that you and
everyone you can muster to come with you will join in the experience.

FINAL ORGAN RECITAL: The final Advent Adoration and Organ Recital will be this Tuesday at Noon. The mighty Schantz will help aid your prayer in preparation for Christmas.

CONGRATULATIONS: Cheers to our second graders who made their first confessions this past Saturday. What a wonderful grace to receive just as we are entering into the Christmas season. 

MAKE YOUR PLANS: As you plan your Christmas weekend, please bear in mind that we are called to attend Mass twice, once for the Fourth Sunday of Advent (Saturday or early Sunday) and once for Christmas (late Sunday or Monday.) We will have our typical Sunday schedule for the weekend and begin our Christmas Masses with the 4pm on Sunday afternoon through Monday at 11am. Final confessions for Christmas will be Saturday morning at 9:30am. See page 9 in this bulletin for a complete schedule.

WELCOME HOME: Our seminarians, Christopher Villarreal and John Scantling are home on Christmas break and will be staying in the rectory. You will also see them in our sanctuary for our Masses. Please try to say hello and give them a word of encouragement. And please keep them and all of the seminarians and those discerning in your prayers.

God bless,

Fr. Valencheck