Dear Parishioners,
Well, believe it or not, Thanksgiving is now over, and we are getting set for Christmas. But before we celebrate Christmas, I would strongly encourage everyone to enjoy and celebrate Advent. In many ways, we have lost the season of Advent to the secular forces focusing on Christmas. I would suggest that a great Christmas comes as a result of a great Advent.
Advent is traditionally a time of preparation, not merely waiting. The Church teaches us that during Advent, we prepare for the two “comings of Christ.” The first half of Advent focuses on the coming of Christ at the end of time. The second half of Advent focuses on the coming of Christ at Christmas. The lighting of the pink candle in the Advent wreath (which takes place on the third week of Advent) symbolizes the change in focus from the coming of Christ at the end of time to the coming of Christ at Christmas.
I offer us some quotes about Advent:
- “At this Christmas when Christ comes, will He find a warm heart? Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving the others with God’s own love and concern.” – Mother Teresa
- “It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus to open doors of hope.” – Pope Benedict XVI
- “The Lord is coming, always coming. When you have ears to hear and eyes to see, you will recognize him at any moment of your life. Life is Advent; life is recognizing the coming of the Lord.” – Henri Nouwen
Here at St. Patrick, we have a variety of spiritual offerings to help in that preparation for Christmas. There is the old saying, “You can bring a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” These Advent opportunities are a way for the Parish “to bring you to the water,” but only you can drink from that water. Drink the water! Take advantage of these Advent opportunities!
On Page 7, you will find a listing of the wonderful events. Every Thursday evening in Advent, at 6:00 PM, we will offer Evening Prayer and a Reflection of a Figure of Advent: Isaiah, the Blessed Mother, and John the Baptist. In addition, on Tuesdays, we will offer other spiritual opportunities. Please consult our bulletin or our website — stpatricksmithtown.org — for greater details! And do not forget our Reach for a Star program! Let us see Christ in the disguise of the poor.
Remember: Together, we can do something beautiful for God.
In Christ,
Fr. Brian
P.S. We are going to have a 50–50 Christmas Raffle! Tickets are $25 each, or 6 tickets for $100. There will be 3 winners:
- 1st Place: 70% of the winning portion
- 2nd Place: 20% of the winning portion
- 3rd Place: 10% of the winning portion
Tickets are available in the bulletin or at the Parish Office. The raffle will take place on Sunday, January 19, after the 12:00 PM Mass.