Advent is a time for joyfully seeking the comings of the Messiah. Advent is a time to increase our own self-understanding as those who continue the mission of Jesus here on Earth. We reveal our identity by being the Christians that God has called us to be.
Church Tradition lets us know that the third Sunday of Advent is “Gaudete,” “Rejoice,” Sunday, named after the entrance antiphon in the Roman Missal. The season of Advent encourages us to make time in our preparations to joyfully greet Jesus in the Christmas season.
As of this week we are $ 7,249.26 from reaching our DSF goal $84,000 for 2017 and we only have a few short weeks before the end of the year. This weekend, for our second collection, we will seek to close the gap on the amount need to complete our designated goal for our parish. I know that we are in difficult economic times, yet each of us has been blessed in so many ways, and we are called to share those blessings with others. We reached our DSF goal for 2016, and this year we need the help of everyone so let’s pray and then give in order to reach our 2017 goal. If we do not make our DSF goal for the year, the balance that is due will come directly out of the operating expense of the parish. Thank you for your generosity.
Several weeks ago. I introduced a new program to the STHY parish family. FORMED is the revolutionary digital online platform that gives STHY unprecedented access to video-based study programs, feature films, audio presentations, and eBooks from the Church’s foremost presenters. With your free access to FORMED, 24/7 on your television, smart phone, laptop, I-pad, or Kindle; you can:
Prepare for Mass each week by watching an insightful five-minute video on the Sunday Readings.
Study the Scriptures at your own pace and time.
Enjoy movies as a family that are both nourishing and entertaining.
Enrich your marriage with the award winning video program Beloved.
Help your children grow in faith and character with engaging children’s materials.
Soo I am asking every family to register for your free access to all the amazing content on FORMED. Go to FORMED.org to register and enter Code:77GVZ3.
I send out my sincere thanks to all who made a pledge for our Building Faith, Family and Future…… our Sanctuary… our Home….. Capital Campaign. I truly appreciate your generosity and support. Please consider making a year end pledge. Envelopes are in the Narthex along with our collection box specifically designed for our Capital campaign or you can do so online through the parish website. When you complete your pledge envelope, drop it in the collection box, offertory basket, or mail it or bring it by the office at any time. Remember, we ask every family to consider an equal sacrifice, not an equal size gift. As we enter the Christmas season and the time for giving, we can all do our part, and every pledge, of every size, is most needed and welcomed. Thank you for doing your part to help us reach our goal.
With Christmas day 2017 on December 25th falling on a Monday it’s going to be a busy time for us in the church as we transition from our Advent season environment to the Christmas season. (In order transform the Church around for the Christmas celebrations, there will be no 12:00 Noon Mass for Sunday December 24th)
Due to the tight schedule, we need lots of hands in decorating the church, Guyot Hall, the Religious Education building and the parish grounds. Call the parish office for details on how to help.
Let’s take a look ahead to the Christmas schedule. Our Christmas Mass schedule is as follows: Sunday, December. 24th, Christmas Eve: 5:00 pm 8:00 pm and 12 midnight; Monday, December. 25th, Christmas Day: 8:00 am and 10:00 am.
With all those masses we will be stretched thin on ministers to help cover the many needs of the Christmas Liturgy. In particular I am asking our Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion to please sign up to assist at one (or two) masses if at all possible. Same goes for our Sacristans, Acolytes, Altar Servers, Ushers and Greeters. We will have a lot of visitors with us this Christmas season and we need your presence, please.