December 7, 2023

Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. John’s,

 

Advent is a time to reflect on our priorities. What have I filled my calendar with? What have I filled my home with? What have I filled my time with? When we honestly answer these questions, we see where our treasure is. Advent is a time to have more quiet and reflection as we not only focus on Christ’s coming at His birth but also at the end of the age. Are we prioritizing steps that will lead us to Eternal Life? We are asked by the Lord to repent of our sins and receive His mercy. Take time this Advent to come to confession. Whether it has been 2 weeks, 2 months, 2 years, or 2 decades, Christ wants to forgive you. Take time this Advent for an extra daily Mass. For those who are unable to attend in person, please join us online. Take time this Advent for adoration. Come to our beautiful adoration chapel to pray or bring your family or friends to our Chapel of the Angels for group adoration. Christ is here waiting for you.

I also want to add a little clarity regarding the Fourth Weekend of Advent and Christmas Masses. To fulfill your Sunday obligation, the Church asks that you to attend Mass on Saturday night at 4:30 pm or Sunday morning at 8:30 am or 10:30 am. To fulfill your Christmas obligation, the Church asks that you attend Mass Sunday evening at 4:00 pm, 6:00 pm or 10:30 pm or Monday morning at 8:30 am or 10:30 am. Sorry, it is not a two-for-one special this year:) You get to come to Mass twice!

Our Restore to Gather Capital Campaign for our church and school is going well. Thank you to those of you who have turned in your pledge form! We are over halfway to our 5 million dollar goal. For those who have not turned in a pledge form, I invite you to fill it out and return your pledge form in the collection basket at church.  Together we can restore our campus so that people can gather here for generations to come. On the weekend of November 11 and 12 I preached about supporting our parish community as we raise up disciples like Regan, a 3rd grader from our school, who gave her dad his first rosary and taught him how to use it. Well, since that homily, Regan’s mom has given birth to twins, a baby boy and a baby girl! Regan now has the opportunity to help both of them encounter God’s love as she has helped her dad. They will be Baptized here at SJB in the near future and we look forward to welcoming them into our school once they are of age. Our parish is growing, and God’s love is growing here as well. Let’s come together and support our Restore to Gather Campaign with meaningful sacrificial gifts so that we can raise up future saints at SJB!