Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Today we light our second candle on our Advent wreaths and we begin our second week of preparation for Jesus’ birthday. How are you doing so far? Are you keeping the Spirit of Advent? Have you said some extra prayers? Have you read much from the Bible? Have you been to Reconciliation yet?

This week, we will have our Advent Communal Reconciliation Service. This Tuesday evening, Dec. 6 th, at 7:00 PM, there will be several priests from around the Deanery here to help us receive God’s love and mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Once again, I remind all of us of just how important it is for us all to go to Reconciliation, and especially how important it is to do it during Advent to help to get ready to celebrate Christmas. I have spoken to many people before, who have told me that a good Reconciliation made the biggest difference in their Advents. I firmly believe that to be true. In a parish the size of St. Maria Goretti, it is extremely important for all of us to take advantage of these communal penance services where there will be a large number of priests helping out. There is simply no way that all of us can go on Saturday morning or Saturday afternoons with just Fr. Dale and myself. YOU NEED TO BE HERE ON TUESDAY EVENING! You need to bring your family. You need to bring your spouse, if they’re Catholic. You need to bring your friends. How sad it is that far too many Catholics haven’t been to Reconciliation for years!!! This is such a powerful, beautiful Sacrament. And the Sacrament works best when we use it often. If we’re only going to Confession once every three or four years, we’re missing out. It doesn’t matter how long it has been since you’ve gone, the important thing is for all of us to be here on Tuesday night. Please come and make things right with God. He doesn’t want there to be anything between you and Him. We ALL need His forgiveness and grace. It’s what we need to do to keep growing in our Faith.

This Thursday, December 8 th, is of course, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and is a Holy Day of Obligation. It is also a very special day for all of us around here at St. Maria Goretti, because it was ten years ago, on December 8 th, 1995, that the first Mass was held at St. Maria Goretti. For ten years now we have been gathering around the Lord’s table, and meeting Jesus in His Body and Blood, Soul, and Divinity, here at 17104, (the school’s address now) and also at 17102 Spring Mill Road in Westfield, Indiana. Ten Years! A lot has happened. God has truly done incredible things. And most especially, we also celebrate our first year anniversary of being in our new church. Because of the special significance of this December 8 th, we will again have one Mass at 7:00 PM in the main sanctuary of the church, celebrating ALL that God has done in our midst. It hasn’t always been easy. We’ve all learned a lot along the way. And there have been so many special moments over the years that have changed our lives. This Thursday, we give thanks and praise to God for the past ten years and we ask for His blessing and guidance in all of the years ahead. It’s time to celebrate! After Mass on Thursday, the Parish Council invites everyone over to the Parish Hall for a reception and special slide show presentation. It is my hope that all of you will be able to join us. This is OUR Parish family – whether you’ve been here for ten years or for ten minutes - we are ONE Faith family! Thursday will be a great day for ALL OF US!

This Advent, let us remember to keep in our prayers in a special way, all of those who are serving our country in the military, especially those deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan. We pray for them and for their families. And we pray for all of those who have lost their lives in this war. We pray for peace, and stability, and for an end to all terrorism and violence all over the world. Peace can be a reality, you know? May Christ’s peace reign in our hearts and lives, especially during Advent. Let us be peace-makers!

Have a great week!

In Christ,
Fr. Kevin

Church is not just some place you go, but something you are.