Rejoice always!  Today is known as Gaudete Sunday.  We wear rose vestments and light the rose candle on the Advent wreath.  Unlike the purple vestments and dark purple candles, which call us to repentance, the rose candle and rose vestments invite us to have a lightness, a joyful spirit as the end of Advent approaches and the celebration of Christmas draws near.  Christmas one week and one day away; are you ready?  The word, “Gaudete” is Latin for “rejoice” and, in today’s second reading, we hear St. Paul exhort the […]

After an extended time with summer-like weather, I hope you are enjoying the cooler days of fall.  As you have surely already noticed in the stores, Christmas preparation has begun.  We have several parish initiatives that will allow you to give to those in need as you celebrate God’s great gift of his son, Jesus.  For those of you not familiar with them or who would benefit from a little refresher, allow me to explain each of these excellent programs: Adopt-a-Family, Christmas Food Basket and the Mercy Hospice Giving Tree.

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“I did not come to be served but to serve,” we hear Jesus declare after two of his disciples, James and John, asked to be seated at his right and his left when he established his kingdom.  It sounds as if even his closest followers did not understand the Gospel that Jesus had come to proclaim – or, at least, they were unwilling to accept it.  Like the Jewish leaders whom we hear Malachi condemn in today’s first reading and Jesus condemn in our Gospel, they were more interested in […]