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December 4, 2020Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary
Tuesday, December 8th
Holy Day of Obligation – Masses at 8am and 6pm
This Tuesday, December 8th, is a Holy Day of Obligation. It is the Feast Day of our National Patron, Mary Immaculate. It is always a Holy Day because America is under the protection of Mary. And yes it is still a serious sin to miss Mass on a Holy Day or Sunday without a grave reason (e.g. being in a vulnerable category or having great anxiety during a pandemic).
Monday, December 14th from 5:30 to 6:30pm
Advent Adoration and Confessions
It can be a challenge to muster a whole lot of joy in the midst of a pandemic. Advent should be a season of joyful preparation for the celebration of Christmas, as well as preparation for the eventual Second Coming of Christ. But much like Easter 2020, which landed almost exactly one month after the country shut down in March, this Advent and Christmas season will likely look quite different than normal. With coronavirus cases resurging in many parts of the country, access to the sacraments and Mass may be restricted. Bishop Parks asked the priests of the Diocese to prepare creatively for increased crowds at Christmas. Our Pastoral Council did not like the idea of having to make reservations for the Christmas Masses and I don’t disagree with them, but I would hate to turn anyone away from Mass at Christmas time.
Traditionally, the 4pm Vigil Mass on Christmas Eve is the best attended Mass of Christmas. With our present practice of social distancing, we can accommodate little more than 60 people in Church. Instead the children’s Nativity Play being presented at the 4pm Mass, we are going to try to stage it outside at 3:15pm and I would imagine a good number of the families involved will want to stay for the Vigil Mass. Delia is working on the possibility of having a simulcast of the 4pm Mass in our gym with the distribution of Holy Communion. My hope is that we will not have to turn away anyone.
This year an additional Mass will be added on Christmas morning at 8am. I realize this isn’t an ideal time for families with young children. But until recently, we didn’t have that many families with young children – what a great ‘problem’ to have. Some of us old folk remember a time when a Christmas Eve Vigil Mass wasn’t an option. So, I’d encourage those of you without young children to save room at the Vigil Mass for young families by reverting to a great practice of attending Mass on Christmas day, either at the 8am or the 10am. And if you really would prefer going to a Vigil Mass come early to the 6pm so that you don’t get left out in the cold.
I am grateful that a few people responded to my plea for more participation at daily Mass during Advent, I hope the numbers continue to increase. But we all can still enter into this Advent season, and live it well, from home. I hope many of you have able to connect with The Road to Bethlehem which can be found on the FORMED link on our website. On their website this year, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has compiled numerous resources that Catholics can use for Advent at home, including prayers, saint biographies, and activities. This week’s Taking the Gospel Home is taken from the USCCB resources.
Taking the Gospel Home: Prayerfully read this Sunday’s Gospel – Mark 1:1-8
Prepare the way of the Lord. How am I preparing my heart for the coming of Christ at Christmas? How can I help bring the Lord to the people that I meet?
Make straight his paths. What things block my path for following Christ? How have I been an obstacle in others’ paths?
[People] were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. What sins go unacknowledged in my life? How can I avoid the sins that take me away from God? Have I made plans to receive the Sacrament of Penance before Christmas?
