Fr. Louis's Advent Letter, 2006
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Greetings in the Lord! Perhaps it is just my imagination, but does it not seem like the advertising blitz for the “holiday” shopping season begins earlier each year? We had not yet observed Halloween and the banners proclaiming “Seasons Greetings” were already strung and some stores were decked out in their “holiday” finest! Being bombarded with all this so early and so often can make it rather difficult for a Christian to keep a proper focus at this time of year. With this letter I invite you to enter into the Church’s sacred season of Advent, the First Sunday of which is December 3.
In her wisdom, the Church gives us this liturgical season of Advent for our spiritual preparation for Christmas.
During these four holy weeks we ready ourselves for our celebration of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God and our Savior. Advent also marks the beginning of a new Church year and so affords us the opportunity for a fresh start. I encourage you to rededicate yourself to prayer, your loving conversation with God. In addition to carving out time for prayer at home and as a family, consider participating in Evening Prayer which is celebrated in church each Wednesday from 5:45 to 6:00 pm. Also, every week the Blessed Sacrament is exposed continuously for 24 hours beginning at 8:00 pm Tuesday and concluding with Benediction at 7:50 pm on Wednesday. Come and spend some quiet time with our Eucharistic Lord! Essential to any Advent spiritual program is regular participation in the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in observance of the Lord’s Day (Vigil on Saturday at 4:00 pm, Sunday at 8:00 am and 10:00 am). You might also consider taking part in the 8:00 am Mass on weekdays as your schedule allows.
Since Advent is a time for new beginnings I encourage you to unburden yourself of your sins by receiving the Sacrament of Penance. There are ample opportunities to receive the Lord’s mercy as confessions are ordinarily heard before Masses Wednesday through Saturday (7:30-7:45 am), Saturday afternoon (3:00-3:45 pm), and Sunday morning (7:00-7:45 am). Also, several priests will be hearing confessions on Saturday, December 16, (9:00 am-Noon and 1:00-3:45 pm). Come and encounter our merciful Savior!
Phil Lawson, our Director of Catechesis and Evangelization, and I will be offering presentations from 7:00 to 8:00 pm on consecutive Tuesdays, December 12 and 19, on reaching out to family members and friends who have given up the regular practice of their Catholic faith. We will look to the faith-filled fourth century North African widow, Monica, and her wayward son Augustine, to see how their story can be of help to us today. Theirs is an inspiring story of wickedness, sin and denial, of love and suffering, of hope and holiness, of prayer and perseverance. Finally, to lift mind and soul to God, our magnificent church will be the venue for two concerts of sacred music during Advent. The Monteverdi Master Chorale performs on Sunday, December 10, at 2:30 pm, while the Stevens Point Area Senior High School Choir and Chamber Orchestra performs at 8:00 pm on Monday, December 11.
For more information about Advent or other aspects of life at Saint Peter, please visit our website at www.saintpetercatholic.com. May the Lord richly bless you and your loved ones in this holy season. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us! Saint Peter, pray for us!
In the Lord,
Pastor