Saturday, December 2nd, one of our parishioners, Mary Speir, received the Gartland Service Award! She was nominated for her years of service to St. James the Less Parish as the Director of Religious Education, an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, a minister to the homebound, a member and leader of the Bereavement Committee, and countless other areas! Congratulations, Mary, for your distinguished service and for the gift you are to your brothers and sisters here at St. James the Less!
BLESSED ADVENT!
Advent begins today! I hope that you have your wreaths out and your Advent Calendars hanging in your homes! We begin this Sunday a period of anxious anticipation of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ! We prepare by getting our hearts and souls clean. We prepare by resisting the rush and busyness of the month and purposefully enter into some stillness and quiet time with the Lord Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. How will you prepare?
We have ordered some Advent Companions from Magnificat publications. This can be a resource and tool for you to take advantage of this beautiful season of Advent. There is a limited supply in the narthex, but you can also order one at www.magnificat.com.
Last year, we had the longest Advent we could possibly have. This year Advent is the shortest it could ever be! December 24 is the 4th Sunday of Advent. December 25 is a Monday. So, what does that mean? In order to fulfill your Sunday obligation and receive communion for Christmas, you must come to Mass at the Saturday evening Vigil Mass (5:00 PM) or Sunday morning (December 24).
We will begin Christmas Masses at 5:00 PM on December 24, Sunday evening. We will have two Masses offered at that time and the two Masses offered at 8:00 PM.
You could also go to Mass Sunday morning and then attend Mass on Christmas Day, Monday, December 25 at 10:00 AM (one of the most beautiful Masses of the year, in my opinion!).
I urge you to begin planning your 4th Sunday of Advent and Christmas Mass schedule for your family!
May you and your families know the abundant love of God this week!
~ Fr. Daniel Firmin