Dear Parish Family,
Each year, the 3rd Sunday of Advent – “Gaudete” (“Joy”) Sunday is a chance to realize – Christmas is truly coming soon. We have an opportunity to use the coming of Christmas to decide what in our lives can be better aligned with Christ’s values in advance of his next coming (which, who knows – could be even BEFORE Christmas comes). We know neither the day nor the hour…
This is a perfect week to make your plan for Christmas Mass this year.
We will offer four Masses for Christmas:
4 P.M. Christmas Eve in the church;
Another Mass simultaneously at 4 P.M. in the Great Hall of the school;
7 P.M. in the church (which will be livestreamed), and
10 A.M. Christmas Morning.
Advent is traditionally a time to make an effort to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, no matter how long it has been since our last experience of Confession. It’s a beautiful part of the housecleaning we are doing physically and spiritually to get ready for our divine Christmas guest.
In addition to our weekly Wednesday confessions from 1:00-2:00 (after the 12:10 Mass) we’ll also be offering a Day of Reconciliation on Tuesday, Dec. 21 from 2:00 to 7:00 PM in the church. This will give everyone a full day to come whenever their schedule allows and find at least two priests on duty to hear their Confession and offer absolution. (Earlier that day,
we’ll be offering the Sacrament to all the students at SMSA so they can experience the grace of Sacramental forgiveness and healing as well. ☺)
If Tuesday, December 21 is not a good day for you, we also invite you to take part in a communal Advent Reconciliation Service with numerous priests celebrating the Sacrament all at once. That celebration will be held one week earlier on Tue. 12/14 at 1 P.M. at St. Michael’s in South Glens Falls.
Thank you for making your Advent count and participating so beautifully in the practice of our beautiful Catholic faith.
With “gaudete” and gratitude...
Father Scott