A Busy Advent

12-05-2021From Fr. Antony's DeskFr. John J. Barbella

I hope your Thanksgiving was as nice as mine! After watching the P’burg – Easton football game on TV, I headed over to my sister Natalie’s home in Hillsborough. My mother was there, along with some relatives we don’t see too often, my Aunt Phyllis and Uncle Jack, and some cousins from my father’s side of my family. After dinner, my cousin Catherine came over for dessert with some of her family. It was great to spend the day with them.

Next Sunday we will have special devotions to our Blessed Mother, under her title of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the 11:00am and 1:00pm Masses. Everyone is invited to bring a rose (or other flower) for our Blessed Mother. These will be presented during Mass, after which we will pray the Litany of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Speaking of Our Blessed Mother, remember that this Wednesday, December 8th, is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. It is one of Mary’s most solemn feast days, and a holy a day of obligation. Every Catholic who is able to do so has a serious obligation to attend Holy Mass that day. Masses for Immaculate Conception will be offered in our Church on Tue, Dec 7 at 5:30pm and on Wed, Dec 8 at 6:45am and 8:00am and 12:10pm and 7:00pm. Let’s all come to honor our Blessed Mother and worship her Son, Jesus Christ.

In many of her appearances, especially at Fatima, Our Blessed Mother reminded us of the importance of repenting our sins. The best way to do this is to make a good Confession, something every Catholic should do during the Advent season. There is no better way to make sure our souls are free from sin and ready to both celebrate Jesus’ birth at Christmas and meet Him when He comes again in glory!

Remember that we will have our Parish Penance Service on Mon, Dec 13, at 7:00pm. We will open with a very brief service designed to help people examine their consciences and prepare for Confession. As in past years, about 10 priests will be on hand to facilitate the hearing of Confessions. If you haven’t been to Confession in a while, this Penance Service would be a good time to go. For the rest of the Advent season, we will have at least two priests hearing Confessions at those scheduled times. Let’s all be sure to take advantage of these opportunities to be freed from sin and filled with God’s grace as we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birth this Christmas.

Next Saturday we will have a special Mass at 10:00am. It will be offered for an increase in respect for God’s gift of human life. Following the Mass, we will have a procession from the Church to the Life Choices Medical office on South Main Street (near the black bridge). Everyone is welcome to join us in this prayerful walk – to bring the Real Presence of Jesus through our town. We will need some strong arms to help carry the canopy over the monstrance, and plenty of people simply to walk and pray together.

Thanks to each and every person who took a tag from the Giving Tree. Please be sure to bring the gifts to Church no later than next Sunday. This will ensure proper distribution of all the gifts. As always, I am inspired by the charity of the good people of this parish!

Please say a prayer for me today, at least one Hail Mary. Be assured of my prayers for you. Let’s also pray for all those in need and for peace.

Have a great week!
Fr. John

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