Dear Friends in Christ,
REJOICE! “Rejoice” is the message of the third Sunday of Advent, traditionally called Gaudete or ‘Rejoice’ Sunday. Just as the arrival of the long-expected Messiah drew near for Israel, so in the longing and expectation of the Advent season, we draw closer to the arrival of Christ in the flesh, to His arrival moment by moment by His glorious grace.
We also face the reality of business in our preparations for Christmas celebrations and family gatherings—at our churches and in our homes. To prepare and celebrate well, we need our daily bread of the Eucharist and daily prayer so that St Paul’s words that we hear this weekend may be fulfilled in us: Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near… the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (2nd reading, Philippians 4:4–7). We need the graces of the baptism we have received, that is, the baptism of the Holy Spirit and of fire (Lk 3:16). Come, Lord Jesus.
On this Gaudete Sunday, there are many occasions for rejoicing in the life of our pastorate. Many of our children have experienced their first Reconciliation in these weeks. How beautiful is the mercy of the Lord! Thank you to our faith formation team and families for preparing them. May the graces of this sacrament reach all the more into our daily life of faith and relationship with God and one another. Thank you to those who joined us in Eucharistic adoration and reconciliation this past Wednesday. These are effective ways to prepare the way of the Lord to enter our hearts!
A heartfelt thanks to Leo Zerheusen from HOPE for All who has spoken over the last two weekends. Their service and labors of love are cause for rejoicing. Please prayerfully consider how you might support this ministry serving the needy in our local community.
On December 14, our Archdiocese gained a new priest with the ordination of Father Ron Howard of Glen Burnie! Please pray for Father Howard. His ordination is a special joy for me, as he and I were ordained deacons together. I am grateful to have him now as a brother priest.
We encourage you to be attentive to our pastorate’s Christmas liturgy schedule in your preparations for Christmas. Let us pray in a special way for one another and for our families and friends who will be with us for these celebrations. May they have a deep, profound experience of the love of God through the sacraments and in the presence of our spiritual family.
The Lord is near. Thank you as always for keeping our Pastorate in your daily prayers!
Father John
P.S. To quote the wisdom of our pastor Father Steve regarding the rose color of the vestments and the third candle on the Advent wreath: “Jesus didn’t PINK from the dead; He ROSE from the dead.”
