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I hope that your Thanksgiving Day feasting prepared you well for the Season of Advent. We tend to overlook the Church’s liturgical season in the face of our culture’s emphasis on Christmas as an economic event. We are constantly bombarded with messages that urge us to buy, buy, and buy! The Season of Advent offers a different and ultimately much more important message. Through the readings and prayers of this liturgical season we are reminded to prepare, prepare, prepare! This preparation focuses on the return of Christ in triumph in the first part of the season, and only after December 16 does our attention turn to the Nativity, or birth, of our Lord Jesus.
To help with our preparation for what is ultimately important, there are many activities I will highlight.
Saturday, December 2, Confessions will be heard St. Joseph at 3:30pm. This day will also mark the 4th anniversary of music ministry for Jason Volovar at St. Joseph. Please consider joining the choir or becoming a cantor to help with his many gifts that he provides for our worship.
Sunday, December 3, the Knights of Columbus are having a pancake breakfast at IHM.
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Friday, December 8th) is a Holy Day of Obligation. The Mass schedule is 6:00pm at St. Joseph on Thursday, Dec. 7. The Mass on Friday is at IHM at 9:00am.
Friday, December 8, the singing group, The Men of Independence, will have a concert at St. Joseph Church at 7:00pm.
Saturday, December 9 we will accept our Candidates for Confirmation at 4:30pm Mass..
Monday, December 11, all parishioners in our region will have the opportunity to celebrate Reconciliation at the Communal Penance Service held at St. Michael in Canfield. On Tuesday, December 12, the Communal Penance Service will be at IHM. On Thursday, December 14, the Communal Penance Service will be at St. Catherine Church in Lake Milton. The service will begin at 7:00 pm. at each location. There will be several confessors available. In preparing for the return of Christ and the celebration of Christmas, Confession is literally good for the soul!
The Parish Offices will be closed on Friday, Dec. 22 and Tuesday, Dec. 26.
We will observe the 4th Sunday of Advent at the 4:30 Mass on Saturday, Dec. 23. There will be no morning masses on Dec. 24.
The Eucharist will be celebrated at 4:00 pm at St. Joseph and at 5:30 pm at IHM on Christmas Eve. We will have Mass at 9:00 am at St. Joseph and at 11:00 am at IHM on Christmas Day.
I am eager to celebrate the holidays with all of you this year. Praying that God continues to bless and keep you, I remain
