Posted on November 27, 2024 View all Pastor's Letter
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
Happy Advent season. As you will notice, in our sanctuary this Sunday, we begin the season of Advent; the Advent wreath, the main figure of this season, has already been placed; also, today, the first of the four candles will be lit, indicating that we have begun the first week. It is a time of grace and preparation to receive Jesus in the manger of our hearts. It is a beautiful time because, together with Christmas, it makes me enter into an atmosphere of peace and meditation on the great mystery of the incarnation of Jesus in the world. Advent comes from the Latin “adventus,” which means coming or arrival. This time invites us to prepare for the coming of the Messiah, the arrival of the light that is Jesus, who becomes a man like us except in sin.
With the start of Advent, we embark on a new liturgical year, a year in which the Church celebrates the entire mystery of Christ, from his birth to his final and definitive coming, known as the Parousia. This liturgical year is not just a calendar, but a profound spiritual journey. As we journey through it with faith and love, God comes to us, offering us salvation through his Son, Jesus Christ, the only Mediator between God and men. As Pope John Paul II wrote in his apostolic letter, the liturgical year is ‘the path through which the Church remembers the paschal mystery of Christ and relives it‘ (n. 3).
December is a month of many celebrations, among them the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe; I ask you to celebrate them with much love and enthusiasm.
This year, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception will not be celebrated on December 8th because this day is a Sunday, and, being Advent, it cannot be replaced. Therefore, it will be celebrated on Monday the 9th. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception will be a holy day of obligation, therefore, it is mandatory to attend mass. The times of the Eucharist on that day will be 6:30 am, 9:00 am, and 6:00 pm in English and 7:30 pm in Spanish.
On December 12th, we will have a lovely celebration. At 4:00 am, we will have the “mañanitas” with Mariachi and the prayer of the Rosary, a beautiful tradition of serenading Our Lady early in the morning. At night, the solemn mass at 7:00 pm will be dedicated to Our Lady.
I also invite all parents to bring their children to a pre-celebration of Christmas on December 8th; that day, we will have breakfast with Saint Nicholas; it will be a morning to share and prepare for Christmas. The feast of Saint Nicholas is on December 6th, but we will celebrate it two days later. Breakfast will be after the 8:00 am and 10:00 am masses, and I would like to thank the Knights of Columbus for their cooperation. Breakfast costs $10 for adults and $6.00 for children. More information about the breakfast can be found in the bulletin.
Your presence and participation in these celebrations are a testament to your faith and dedication. I hold you in my prayers and wish you a joyous and fulfilling Advent season.
Fr. Alex
