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Welcome to our Faith Community
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A Message from our PastorPeace and all Good!
Today begins the season of Advent and a new liturgical year. As we begin Mass today we pause at the Advent wreathe to bless it and to light one purple candle. |
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This circular evergreen with its four candles lit on each of the four weeks of Advent, reminds us that this is a time of solemn preparation, that during this season we are awaiting the Light of the World and the Dawning of Hope. According to Mark’s gospel, nobody knows about “that day or hour” in which the Son of Man will return, neither the angels in heaven, nor Jesus himself, but only the Father (Mark 13:32) But, Jesus tells his listeners to “keep awake, stay alert” to highlight the urgency of the situation. This beautiful season makes it clear that Christ “will come again”. The question for us is: “Are we ready for the coming of the Lord—each day, in communion, in the events of our lives, at Christmas, at the hour of our death, on the last day?
These coming weeks are filled with many opportunities to “prepare the way of the Lord”. I call your attention to our traditional Advent Giving Tree decorated with ornaments listing gift ideas for the poor. Please take an ornament off the tree and bring the wrapped gift back to church. Our St. Vincent de Paul Society members will then make sure that your thoughtfulness will reach those who could use a little joy this Christmas! This is a perfect way for those with children to form little ones in the true meaning of Christmas.
This year our Diocese of Phoenix will be celebrating its 40th anniversary! The theme of our celebration will be “Honor Your Mother” because our diocese is under the patronage of Our Lady of Guadalupe. On Sunday, December 7th, the festivities begin at Immaculate Heart Church and then there is a procession to St. Mary’s and finally a festive outdoor Mass with Bishop Olmsted as the presider. See today’s bulletin for more details.
On Monday, December 8th, we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, a holy day of obligation for us in the United States. This is also a special feast day for our parish—we are St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish. Our glorious rose window depicts the beautiful woman who gave birth to the savior! Solemn Masses will be celebrated at Noon and 5:15 p.m.
Over the last several years, there has been a growing awareness of the meaning of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. John Paul II. placed all the Americas under the patronage of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Each year we gather on December 12th for an outdoor procession in the plaza and then enter the church for Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. After the ceremony, we will continue the celebration with a potluck Mexican meal and mariachi music! You may sign up today in the vestibule to bring your favorite Mexican dish to share with others.
Our Christmas Carol Sing a Long has become a tradition here at St. Mary’s. This year, there will be a live Christmas Creche added to the evening’s festivities. Mark your calendars for 6:00 p.m. on Saturday evening, December 20th and bring you family and friends and usher in the Christmas spirit with carols and refreshments under the tent in the Friars Garden.
Finally, let us prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ through the sacrament of reconciliation on Monday, December 20th at 7:00 p.m. Several confessors will be available for our annual community celebration of God’s peace.
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I wish to thank all of you who made your new stewardship commitment to the parish last weekend. If you were unable to do so, there are pledge cards in the pews today for your convenience. “O God, we commit ourselves to be good stewards of the gifts entrusted to us, to share our time, our talent, our material gifts as an outward sign of the treasure we hold in Jesus.”
Fr. Vince
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