A Note From Father Eickhoff
November 24, 2024
This Sunday in the Church calendar is the Feast of Christ the King, the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year. The next Sunday (December 1st) will be the start of the new Liturgical Year, the Year of Grace 2025; and also the start of the Season of Advent. Since the Season of Advent is rapidly approaching, I want to share with you some important information about preparing in the spiritual way for Christmas. This is after all what the Season of Advent is all about, preparing for the arrival of Christ.
Before we get to the Season of Advent however there is one last item of note in the week before Advent: that is Thanksgiving Day. It is interesting to note that Thanksgiving Day is not a Church holy day. There are no special liturgical items of note on this day. However, it is certainly a good idea to take time to give thanks to God for the blessings He has bestowed upon us. There will be a special Mass on Thanksgiving Day at 9.30am in the church in place of the usual 7am communion service.
There are several different paths for preparing for Christ’s coming at Christmas that we can go down during the Season of Advent. First, we should take the time to examine how we have lived our lives and what we have done for good or ill towards God, our families, and our neighbors. Then, having examined our lives, we should seek the forgiveness of God for those times we have done wrong in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. As a reminder, confessions are heard every Wednesday evening between 7pm and 8pm and every Saturday afternoon between 3.30pm and 4.30pm. There will also be a parish reconciliation service on Sunday, December 8th beginning at 4pm. At this service there will be additional priests present to hear confessions.
Second, we should take the time to pray. Christmas is so much more than simply giving and receiving presents. It is truly about welcoming our savior Jesus Christ into our lives. Perhaps the best way to pray is to come to church and pray together with other Christians and to pray before the Blessed Sacrament. There are several opportunities to do this at St. Anne Parish. Every Wednesday there is a holy hour in the parish chapel between 7pm and 8pm. Every Friday there is a half-hour period of adoration in the church beginning at 8.30am. During the Season of Advent there will be a special Vesper prayer service every Sunday mas spirit!” On Saturday, December 14th St. Anne Parish will host a Christmas concert in the church. This will be a wonderful moment for letting go – for a time – of the cares of the world and simply enjoying the gifts of music and song that God has granted to us.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Stephen Eickhoff
Pastor