Keeping Christmas

Well, by this time you most likely have your Christmas tree up & decorated. Presents are probably bought & wrapped. Christmas is upon us.
Unfortunately, many people, including good Catholics have lost the sense of the Season. I mean that for many, Christmas ends on December 25th or at least by New Years Day.
Will you be keeping Christmas for the entire season? Remember the 12 days of Christmas song? It is meant to remind us that Christmas lasts more than one day or one week. Growing up, we called the feast of the Epiphany on January 6th "Little Christmas" . Our Church celebrates Christmas until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord (January 13th this year)
Will this be a season of joy for you? Will you keep Christmas alive for the whole season, especially in your heart and home. Show the world the full meaning of Christmas by bringing Christ to others, especially those who may not be of good cheer. Let your decorations stay until at least January 6th, the feast of the 3 Kings.
How will you keep Christmas more this year than in the past/ Enter a comment and let me know.

Happy New Year!!!

No, I'm not crazy or messed up on the date. Our Church Year begins with the first Sunday of Advent. This year we will be in cycle B, which focuses mainly on the Gospel of Mark.

Since this is the New Year of our church, we should use it to make a few New Year resolutions, spiritually, that it.

Maybe for some it will be to make their prayer life more consistent, more praise and less "Please Help!" For others, it may be to reach out to those estranged from the family or the Church, inviting them back to relationship. Still others may decide to do more to help those less fortunate or to work for justice causes, respecting all life as coming from God.
As we prepare for Christmas by a solid observation of Advent, may the joy of this season and that of Christmas move us to be better disciples of Christ in all we do.

I would urge everyone to contemplate on one thought as a sort of guide or mantra for this year. Every person is loved by God, not for who they are or what they do but simply because God chooses to love all creation. Remember the scripture: "God so loved the world that he gave us his only begotten Son..."

So, share your thoughts about how you will prepare to welcome Christ in your heart & home.

Saints Alive

With the approach of November, we enter the time of remembrance of those who have already joined God. Beginning with All Saints Day on November 1st and All Souls Day, November 2nd, we take time during the month to pray for and with our deceased loved ones.
We are all saints through our baptism. Living a saintly life is not a matter of floating around with angelic music playing. What would be the attraction in that? We are saintly when we go about our everyday tasks in a spirit of love, joy & peace, even in the midst of this world's turmoil.

Who modeled practical sainthood for you? Who showed you what it means to live your faith in day to day reality, standing firm to the teaching of Jesus even when it was not the easy way?

Feel free to share a story or two of these people so we can all remember & rejoice in their lives.

Mass Confusion

It seems that there is much confusion and concern surrounding the changes in the Mass that will take place beginning this Advent. While the parish has put material in the bulletin and a workshop was offered, many still have questions. If you do, use the comment section on this post to ask them or to make comments about the changes.