Dec 19, 2019

Greetings,

It’s been great seeing our college students home for the holy days and coming to Mass! It does a pastor’s heart good. Awesome to see you. Welcome home to all those who are in town for Christmas and for those who are visitors may your time at this parish bring you blessings and peace.

And, of course, a special prayer and blessing to those who are here week in and week out giving praise to God, building up our community and reaching out to those in need. May you be especially spiritually enriched during this holy season. Thank you for all that you do and know of my prayers every single day.

IN OTHER NEWS:

A CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR YOU!:  A generous parishioner has made it possible for the parish to offer to you Matthew Kelly’s book, “Rediscovering the Saints,” available at the doors of the church this Fourth Sunday of Advent. One per household please! If there are any copies left over after this weekend you are invited to take an additional book if you wish. A huge THANK YOU to our donor and an early Merry Christmas to all of you!

CHRISTMAS CONCERT:  Our choir accompanied by organ and other instruments will be performing a candlelight concert this Saturday, December 21st, in the church. Free and open to all.

ADORATION CHRISTMAS EVE & NEW YEAR’S EVE:  These two days are traditionally very busy for people and I have some concern whether adorers will be available to be in attendance before the Blessed Sacrament throughout the day. So I decided to let you decide if we will still have adoration these two days! There will be a sign up on the altar rail by the Blessed Virgin statue. If we get people to cover the available hours, we will have adoration.

CHECK THE MASS SCHEDULE!:  For Christmas, the Mass schedule is somewhat different from the typical Sunday schedule. Please confirm the time that you will be attending Mass!

Christmas Eve:

4:00 - Children’s Mass with Children’s Choir & Band

4:15 - Mass at Julie Billiart - 380 Mineola - enter from upper parking lot

7:00

MIDNIGHT - Choir begins singing at 11:30

Christmas Day:

9:00

11:00

1:00 - Extraordinary Form (Latin)

MIDNIGHT HALLELUJAH CHORUS:  Feel free to bring your score of Handle’s Hallelujah Chorus and sing along with the choir at the end of the Midnight Mass.

PARISH OFFICES CLOSED:  The parish offices will be closing at noon on Christmas Eve and reopening on Friday, December 27th.

NEW DOOR ACTUATOR:  The new door actuator near the handicap section should be installed by the time you read this!

God bless & Merry Christmas,

Fr. Valencheck