Today we begin the new Liturgical Year, the First Sunday of Advent. There are four Sundays in Advent as we prepare for Christmas. The rest of the world has already begun the Christmas Season with shopping and TV and radio shows. The Church takes a more somber preparation building up to the Birth of Christ.
On December 6 we will celebrate Saint Nicolas, the saint who was the model for Santa Claus. Since Christmas will be on Monday the day after the Fourth Sunday of Advent, we will have our Pre-Christmas Family Celebration on Dec. 17 from 12 – 2 PM. Please see, Annie Tardy for details.
Don’t forget to pick up your Evergreen Order. See Nicole or Judy with your order.
We are about to begin our 90th year as a parish. We are looking for more history of the parish as well as ideas on how to celebrate this great anniversary. Why not spend a little time looking at the pictures of the priest and deacons who have served here? Maybe you will be enlightened by the Holy Spirit to contribute a great idea or two for this coming year.
There is a new community organizing effort taking shape in Northern Indiana. It is called NE-ICAN. I have attended two clergy meetings. It is an interfaith organization looking at systemic change for the better. The diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend backs this with groups in Fort Wayne, Elkhart and St. Joe counties. It should develop into a lay led organization to make things better for everyone. If you would like more info on this group, please see me, Father Len. This is a leadership development process.
Our first reading today from the Prophet Isaiah cries to God for help. It starts and ends with great hope. “You, Lord, are our father, our redeemer you are named forever. We are the clay and you are the potter: we are all the work of your hands.” God is with us, even when we stray.
In our second reading St. Paul tells the Corinthians and us that the Lord Jesus Christ “will keep you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
In today’s Gospel Jesus warns his disciples: Watch, therefore; you do not know when the lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning.” Jesus tells us to be ready for his coming into our lives. In today’s context we are talking about his coming to us as one of us at Christmas. We are also talking about his coming to us at the end of time as well as his coming at our own death. However, we are also talking about him coming to us through each other. Whatever we do for the least of his brothers and sisters we do for him. And of course he comes to us in prayer and especially in the sacraments. Maranatha is our Advent Prayer, Come, Lord Jesus!
Be sure to check our Giving Tree in the Foyer!
The National Black Catholic Congress has published a Pastoral Plan of Action. It can be found on their website.
Let us continue to pray for peace in the world. Let us also pray for vocations to the church. Let us pray for the sick of the parish. Let us pray that all will come to respect life. Let us pray for one another and for the canonization of Father Tolton.