December! The last month of the year! And a busy one! We have so many special celebrations in our
Catholic Church, and we start with the Advent Season. Advent comes from the Latin Adventus, which
means "coming." Advent lasts four Sundays and marks the beginning of a new liturgical year. Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, explains that we should prepare for Jesus's coming in three ways: 1. His birth on Christmas, 2. His Second coming at the end of times, and 3. Jesus's daily coming into our hearts in the Eucharist.
Fr. Alar adds that Advent, just like Lent, is a time to prepare. We prepare for the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day and for his second coming, but most importantly, we prepare our hearts to receive Him. Just like Lent, Advent is a time of prayer and penance. As we get our homes ready, with the Christmas tree and Nativity Set, buying gifts, writing cards and preparing meals, let us pray to the Holy Spirit to clean up our hearts, make room for Jesus, and seek Him often in the Eucharist. Advent is our practice run for when we meet Jesus at the end of time. Another celebration happens on December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation. Since the feast this year falls on a Sunday, Catholics will commemorate it on Monday, December 9. Archbishop Vigneron has issued a dispensation for this year, but you can join me and the Holy Innocents parishioners at 8 a.m. Mass. December 12 is the feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Please read "Saints by Gail" to learn more about Mary's apparition in Mexico City and the conversion of many indigenous people to the Catholic Faith. Additionally, Pope Francis announced that the 2025 Jubilee Year's theme is the "Pilgrims of Hope" and wil start on December 24, 2024, and conclude on January 6, 2026. Join us for any of December's Catholic Faith
classes to learn more about the Jubilee Year of Hope (see page 4 for more information). Lastly, Christmas Day and New Year's Day are Holy Days of Obligation. Masses will be at 10 a.m. at St.
Valentine's School Chapel and noon at Holy Innocents St. Barnabas Church on these Holy Days. Remember that Jesus is the reason for the season! Happy and blessed Advent Season!