First Sunday of Advent: Advent is the great liturgical season of ‘waiting.’ The Lord is near; our Savior is coming to save us. St. Paul exhorts us to: “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances…. May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thes 5:16-18; 23). Advent, therefore, is the liturgical season that prepares us for the Lord’s birth, but it is also the time of expectation for the definitive return of Christ at his second coming. In other words, how we prepare for his birth is tied to the way we prepare for our death and His second coming.
Welcome back: Our parish welcomes back our college students who are home for Thanksgiving. I pray that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families and that you have safe journeys back to college.
Advent by Candlelight: This Thursday evening, December 1, is our annual Advent by Candlelight for the women of our parish. This is always a special blessing to our community.
New in our Bulletin: A very positive suggestion was made by one of our parishioners. How about putting in our bulletin little reflections from parishioners on how they encountered the Lord during the week? Great idea!
Richard Budd: Tomorrow, November 28, I am meeting with Richard Budd from the office of Marriage at the Diocese of Lansing. We are meeting to discuss marriage preparation and ways we can be more of service for couples. One of the discussions will be the possibility of having mentor couples work with the engaged couples in a larger capacity.
Genesys Hospital: This Tuesday, November 29, I am blessing the Nativity scene at Genesys Hospital. Of course the question came up: should the baby Jesus being the crib during Advent or wait until Christmas? In Rome at St. Peter’s Square the crib scene is covered until Christmas Eve. In America it seems like the custom is to display the baby Jesus in Advent.
Bball game at Powers: As I mentioned in last week’s bulletin, Fr. Gary and I will be playing in a basketball game at Flint Powers High School this Tuesday evening to benefit Catholic Charities in Flint. Hope I don’t get hurt!
2013 Class Reunion: This Friday evening, December 2, the Holy Family school graduating class from 2013 will be getting together for a reunion.
I’m in no hurry for snow! Have a blessed Advent season and be assured of my love and prayers.
Msgr. Jerry
As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
– The Feast of St. Andrew is November 30