News - November 2017 RSS Feed

Dear friends in Christ,
As we begin the four-week season of Advent today we are called to wait joyfully for the Lord. We know Christmas is near. The Thanksgiving holiday is behind us and many of us are probably already in high gear in terms of preparations for Christmas. We know it’s always a stressful time. Why not make a “liturgical new year resolution” to wait patiently? While everyone else is speeding up, try slowing down and listening for the voice crying out in the desert, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” Our Advent wreath is blessed today and the first candle is lit to remind us of the coming of the light of Christ. Let us not allow the darkness of the world to overshadow that light. It has been entrusted to us to be kept burning brightly. Just as we light our trees and homes these days, do not fail to show forth the light of Christ in all you say and do in these coming weeks.

Dear friends in Christ,
Today is the Solemnity of Christ the King, the final Sunday in Ordinary Time of the Church’s liturgical calendar. Next week we begin the great season of holy waiting, Advent. But before then we honor Christ as our King. Not an earthly king of physical and political power and might, however, but a king who lays down His life in service to all.

Dear friends in Christ,
Today is the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time and also the last Sunday before Thanksgiving. In most years that would mean it’s also Christ the King Sunday, but due to the way the calendar falls in 2017, we won’t celebrate that feast until next weekend after Thanksgiving. This is one of the rare years that the liturgical season of Advent will fall entirely in the month of December, beginning on Dec. 3. That may be of interest to only a few of us liturgy nerds, but I for one like those quirky Catholic facts.

Dear friends in Christ,
This Thursday, Nov. 16, we celebrate the ninth anniversary of the dedication of our church. We give thanks to almighty God for the gift of our earthly spiritual home as we wait in joyful anticipation of union with Him in our heavenly home. It’s a day of great rejoicing for us at CtR as we recall the beautiful events of nine years ago and we see God’s manifestation in all the people who make up our parish community. We’ll celebrate our 9 a.m. daily Mass that day in the church itself as a sign of our thanksgiving.

Dear friends in Christ,
As the November days grow shorter and the nights get longer it is an appropriate time to turn our hearts and minds to what lies beyond us. We have already celebrated All Saints and All Souls this past week, and the whole of the month of November is a time of remembrance. Our liturgical year is drawing to a close (it will end on Nov. 26, the Solemnity of Christ the King), and our calendar year will also soon be over.