Dear Parishioners,

Welcome to Advent!  Advent is a period of preparations and expectation for four Sundays before Christmas.  The word "Advent" comes from the Latin advenio , meaning "to come to" and refers to the coming of Christ into our lives.  The Advent liturgical color is dark blue with purple.  Perhaps the best-known of the Advent symbols is the Advent wreath.  The first Advent wreath was conceived by Johann Hinrich Wichern in 1839.  He founded a home for poor children in Hamburg,    Germany and during the weeks leading up to Christmas, he was constantly asked by the children when Christmas come.  He constructed a wooden circle out of a cart wheel and topped it with four tall white candles.  Each Sunday he would light an additional candle until the feast of Christmas arrived.  The Advent wreath tradition didn't spread beyond Germany until the 1930's .  Today, Advent wreaths are common in our parish churches and in the homes of Christians.  As we enter into       Advent, take time to pray, to read the Gospel of Luke and to come together in worship and praise at our weekend liturgies.
 
Congratulations to our children in second grade Faith Formation who received the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time this weekend. Their names are listed in the bulletin. We look forward to their celebration of First Eucharist in May.
 
This coming Saturday is a Holy Day, The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Masses will be offered at St. Anthony's church on Friday, December 7th at 5:30 p.m. and at St. Mary's church on Saturday, December 8th at 12:10 p.m.
 
Daily Mass during Advent .... Mass is celebrated in our chapel Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.  We also pray Evening Prayer before the Mass at 4:50 p.m.   Make your Advent a time of spiritual enrichment and join us for Daily Mass.

Many thanks. God Bless You,  Fr. Paul J. Alciati