Advent is that time in the liturgical year when we celebrate new beginnings and hopefully it will be a time that offers us an opportunity to deepen our relationship with Christ.  One of the most powerful ways we can grow in our relationship to Christ has always been to humbly admit that it is not everything that it could be; it is not everything that we would hope it to be.  So, a very basic Catholic practice that too many Catholics have avoided for far too long is to confess our sins and seek out God’s great mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  I am hoping that you will rise to the challenge and come to the Adoration and Advent Penance Services that are being held in Church on the next two Monday evenings from 5:30 to 7:00.  It will be a time to spend a few minutes in quiet prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and also an opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Msgr. Jim Costigan will join me this Monday (12/11) in hearing Confessions.
 
If it has been a while, please trust me when I tell you that for any priests worth being called “father” compassion is always going to be the bottom line.  I have known priests who have been unkind in the confessional and I’d never ask them to hear confessions in any parish that I pastored.  Part of that compassion comes in helping you to make a good confession especially if you have forgotten the “how” of confessing your sins.  You only need to be able to “name” your sins and I will be happy to lead you through the details of celebrating the Sacrament. The insert should help you with the examination of your conscience so that you will be able to state your sins in a brief and straightforward manner.
   
Some Housekeeping Notes
 

1. The Retirement Fund for Religious is being taken up this weekend.  As you may have already heard me say, I am not a big fan of second collections but I think this one is super important.  If you forgot your envelope, please know that you can place it in next week’s offertory.
2. Not being a fan of second collections, I was not thrilled to see the “Initial Offering” envelope in my boxed set of envelopes.  Really!!!  That is soooo 1950’s Church.  It is like the hangman asking you to pay for the rope with which he hangs you.  Ignore it.
3. I’ve added an extra Mass for Christmas, so invite family and friends here on Tybee to join us.  I’m guessing the 4pm on Christmas Eve with its children’s pageant will be crowded, but the 6pm hopefully will have room for guests and I always like the peace and tradition of Mass on Christmas Day at 10am.
4. What happened to the “cheat sheet” with the Mass responses on it?  I too am very slower to put anything to memory, so look in the inside cover of the new hymnal. 
5. I am told we are doing a slow transition to the new hymnal.  When it is completed the two remaining red hymnals in each pew will be replaced with the blue hymnals.  The hymn number board will either have a red block (for the old red hymnal) in front of the number or a blue block (for the new blue hymnal) to indicate what hymnal you need to use.  During this time of transition, it really is okay to share the old hymnal with your neighbor.
6. And if you know your neighbor is a visitor, be boldly welcoming and show them where we hide the vocation prayer so that they can join us in praying it.
7. We “sold out” of the Word Among Us for Advent.  Praise God for the hunger to draw closer to God.  There are some blue books available with meditations for Advent and Christmas.  Take one quick before they disappear too.

 
Fr. Jerry Ragan