Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Welcome to the first Sunday of Advent and to our new liturgical year! This will be a very different Advent for all of us here at St. Maria Goretti, as we spend the first two weeks of Advent in our Parish Hall and then move into our new church for the third and fourth weeks of the season. It is also different this year because we get almost a full week of the fourth of Advent. Let us use this time wisely to prepare for the birthday of our Savior.

It would not be the First Sunday of Advent without me issuing my annual plea to truly keep the Holy season of Advent. It is four weeks until Christmas. This is Advent. We need to have Advent before we have Christmas. This ends up being so counter-cultural, because our society, especially our retailers, have been in the Christmas mode and have had Christmas things out since the day after Halloween! There’s even a local radio station that has been playing all Christmas songs for a couple of weeks now! As good Catholics, we fight a losing battle every year to keep both Advent and Christmas in their rightful places. For the vast majority of our culture, December 25 th will hit, and the celebration will end with the last piece of mom’s pie. On December 26 th, most people will go back to “ordinary time”. We, as Catholics, are just starting to celebrate on December 25 th. We will be celebrating the birthday of our Lord until mid-January. As such, Advent is not the time for Christmas parties. It is not the time for celebrations, and rejoicing, and Christmas music. It is not the time to decorate and put our Christmas trees, at least not until the very end of the Advent season. Advent is our time to get our hearts and souls ready for Jesus’ birthday. Maybe before we spend hours and hours on what we are going to buy our loved ones for Christmas, maybe we should be investing a little time in what spiritual gifts we are preparing in our hearts for the One who is actually celebrating His birthday. Don’t you think? That’s what the Church is asking us to do. We need to listen and pay attention during this time. God is speaking to our hearts. Are you listening? It is a time for great charity and compassion. During Advent, we remind ourselves that we are supposed to be helping one another out all year long, not just for the four weeks proceeding Christmas. And we are to pray, to fast, to do penance, and get reconciled with God and with one another. We’ve got enough to do to keep us busy for the next four weeks. Please take this time seriously. Wouldn’t it be nice if this Christmas, Jesus’ birthday really was about Jesus? This is our time to do something about it.

We are now ten days away from the Dedication of our new church. This week, the celebration events kick-off with the Ceili Rain concert this Friday night. While this event is geared toward our youth, every one is invited to this concert. Ceili Rain has played all over the world. They bring their unique mix of Irish, Christian rock to St. Maria Goretti for a private concert. It is a great honor for us to have this band with us that I think you will hear a lot more about in the future. Every two years we take representatives from our youth group, T.R.U.T.H., to the National Catholic Youth Convention. Last year it was held in Houston, Texas. One of the biggest hits of the entire NCYC is when Ceili Rain plays. Our youth representatives have loved them every year. I know that you will enjoy them too. Please come and join us on Friday evening. This is the first event in the new worship space. It would really be great if that new church were packed for this event.

There’s a lot going on. Next Saturday afternoon is also the children’s introduction and tours of the new church for families. I sincerely hope that many of you will take advantage of this opportunity and bring the kids to have the new church explained to them in their terms, before the Dedication Mass on December 8 th. Our young folks need to know what’s happening and why it is so important to us. Hopefully, if you have children, you will be able to attend this fun, family event next Saturday afternoon.

What an awesome time! Let’s all stay healthy and really enjoy the next couple of weeks. God must be so happy with what we have accomplished with Him.

Have a great week!

In Christ,
Fr. Kevin