This Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent. 🕯️
Would that you might meet us doing right,
that we were mindful of you in our ways!
Isaiah 63:4
Simple ways to celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas December 6
-Read or share the story of St. Nicholas of Myra, patron saint of children.
-On December 5th children put a shoe outside their door. They can use their own shoes or slippers or wooden shoes just for the occasion. (When there is more time for preparation, it is a wonderful addition to have the children fill their shoes with coins for the poor, which they earn thru small tasks and sacrifices).
The good Saint stops by in the night, (collecting the coins to give to the poor) and filling their shoe with the traditional gifts for the feast of St. Nicholas; a small orange for health (the greatest wealth), a candy cane representing Jesus’ love for us (the greatest gift), gold foil coins for their generosity (that God may supply their needs) a walnut in its shell (God’s protection) and chocolate for joy (the greatest sign of God’s presence). A small toy or token of affection can also be included.
-Older children may enjoy assuming the traditional role of St Nicholas by filling each other’s shoes - a twist on “secret Santa” where family members can make small gifts to express their love and appreciation for one another.
-It is also fun to make or purchase St. Nicholas cookies to decorate and share, or add a bishop’s mitre to a chocolate Santa for the occasion.
-if you shop for gifts for someone in need this Christmas, do it on the feast day and share about how St. Nicholas helped the poor anonymously, with humility and generosity. Finish your outing with a St. Nicholas cookie or the traditional treats and share their meaning while you wrap the gifts.
Visit stnicholascenter.org for a rich variety of resources.
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary
is Friday, December 8th,
a holy day of obligation.
Masses will be at 8AM and 5PM
He said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men’. And they left their nets at once and followed him.
- Matthew 4: 19-20
Today is the feast of St Andrew, Apostle.
This weekend we will celebrate the first Sunday of Advent 🌟
Our parish Advent Wreath will be up near the sanctuary during this holy season in preparation for Christmas. It is also a tradition that many people do in their homes. In Church we use three purple and one rose candle, purple for our spiritual preparation and rose for the joy on Gaudete Sunday #3, when Christmas is drawing near. The wreath is made of evergreen branches, a sign of life and a symbol of resurrection. The wreath is circular, no beginning and no end, like the love of God which never ends. We light a new candle successively each week and the light continues to grow stronger, along with our anticipation.
At home we also use wreaths and candles but they can be as unique as each of our families. They provide a focal point for remembering the true meaning of Christmas, for prayer and quietude or intimate familial sharing of faith and life. Our home times around the wreath are less formal, more organic, sometimes even hilarious, and they all create memories and point the way to Christ in our everyday lives. Isn’t it a wonder, In the darkest time of the year Jesus, the Light of the world, comes to illuminate our hearts with hope.
All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Jn 1:3-5
May the wreath and its light be a sign of Christ's promise to bring us life” I have come, that you might have life, life to the full! John 10:10
We encourage you to have a home wreath this year, to light the candle, keep watch, for Christ comes, our Emmanuel, which means God-is-with-us.
I was talking to my son in law about this yesterday I still have this from last year 🙏
franciscus: Let us ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten us so that we may be able to give an account of our faith and hope to today's world with words and, above all, with the testimony of our lives.
So beautiful.
I ask of you, my Lord, to remove anything which separates me from you, and you from me.
- Prayer of Pierre Favre SJ
"Time is short.
We don't know how long life will last.
And so…
Meet your friends.
Meet people and utter words of
forgiveness, understanding.
Untie your heart, let it beat
again.
Let the heart of stone
become a heart of flesh.
Let it live."
- Cardinal Tagle
