Dear Parishioners,
Happy Advent! This weekend, we begin the penitential season as we prepare our hearts for Christ's return, but also celebrate His first coming as a child to be our savior and Lord. It is an important season for us, not just merely one of preparing for Christmas. In fact, as society moves further into a secularizing Christmas, our best response is to live more Advent until Christmas, and celebrate Christmas as its own season. How can we best celebrate Advent? Resist the urge to decorate and refrain from Christmas Music for a few weeks. Light the Advent wreath, consider making a Jesse Tree, and devote some extra time to prayer both as a family and as individuals. Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I cannot stress this last one enough. Nothing prepares us more than clearing out the clutter of sin from our hearts. For some, Reconciliation is a difficult thing, I know, but how beautiful it is when it is over (besides, no pain, no gain). For many Catholics, they simply have stopped receiving the Sacrament, not going in decades. This is truly sad. Last week, I read about a priest who asked his parishioners to give him the gift of receiving the Sacrament during Advent - and something truly beautiful happened in the parishioners lives because of his challenge. So, I ask you to give me, too, the gift of being reconciled to God through the Sacrament.
In Christ,
Fr. Todd
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