Week of December 1, 2024

Parochial Administrator’s Corner:

Greetings from your parish next door. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Msgr. Hans A. L. Brouwers, the pastor of St. Katharine of Siena Parish. As you know, your beloved pastor, Fr. Carey, is currently taking a leave of absence as granted by Archbishop Perez. Msgr. Angelo Citino was appointed parochial administrator pro tem a few weeks ago to assist where needed. Unfortunately, Msgr. Citino recently learned that he has some cardiac issues that need attention so he has asked to be relieved of this appointment. Archbishop Pérez asked me to succeed him; after all, we’re less than two miles apart! As parochial administrator pro tem, I provide temporary administrative assistance in the name of your pastor. I have met with several of your staff members as well as your resident priest, Fr. Agustin Kassa, and can see that everything is rather well in place. But, I will be available to assist at your parish whenever necessary. In the meantime, please continue to keep Fr. Carey in your prayers for a rapid recovery and quick return!

Meditation on the Gospel:

This weekend we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent. We begin another new liturgical year and, as the Church reminds us, another Year of Grace. Throughout this holy season we will reflect upon Our Lord’s coming at the end of time, His coming at Christmas and hopefully, His coming truly into our hearts. To help you enter this season more fruitfully, we are once again providing our Advent meditation books at the doors of the church. We invite you to take one home so that you might reflect each day on the meaning of this season.

The timeless message of Advent is an invitation and is also a challenge to us. We are called to be looking forward, to be ready, to be prepared “…there will be signs”. Waiting is not something that we are usually good at in our modern times. The world tells us to move faster in so many ways. We have smart phones, emails and microwave ovens that all “help” us to get through our busy days. However Advent asks each of us to do the very opposite. During these sacred days of preparation, we are being asked to take some time to be still and silent as we prepare ourselves deeply for Christ’s coming at Christmas. While we can’t simply ignore the shops, the media and the advertisements over the next few weeks, neither can we ignore the words and message of Jesus in today’s Gospel; “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap…Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”

If we get too caught up in the shopping and spending, there is the danger that we will miss what Advent is really about. This is what the call to “be vigilant” means. We are asked not to miss then these next four weeks of Advent. We are asked to prepare and get ready spiritually in our hearts as best we can as followers of Jesus. It would be so sad, that if after the shopping and all the other preparations, we missed out on the gift of the Advent season and its “joyful and hopeful” message. As the Church celebrates another “Year of Grace”, may we enter into Advent (this new year of grace) wisely and thus be prepared for Christ at all times. May you and your families have a spiritually fruitful & blessed Advent.

Parish Announcements:

Once again, we have placed our OLA Giving Trees at both exits of the Church. We encourage you to take tags home with you to remember the poor & needy at this special time of year. We are collecting for the families at St. Patrick’s Parish in Norristown, PA. Please consider taking a tag (or two) home with you. Return the gift (unwrapped & with the tag attached) to the church vestibule or in the Giving Room by Dec. 8th. We thank you for your generosity to the poor & needy especially at this time of year.
Our Annual Appeal began in October. As of this date, we have raised a total of $ 93,735. Thank you for all the generous responses received to-date and to all for doing whatever you can, within your means, to support OLA.

Families are invited to attend our Annual OLA Advent Social for Children: “Waiting for Jesus” on Sat., Dec. 14th from 10 AM–12 NOON in Assumption Hall! We will welcome Mary as she gets ready for Jesus’ birth, enjoy refreshments, make Advent-themed crafts and sing Advent songs. There will be a visit from Santa! A free-will donation of newborn & large diapers, clothing for newborn boys & girls (0 to 6 mo.) or boys clothes over 18 months are welcome. We will donate them to A Baby’s Breath, A Crisis Pregnancy Center in Wayne.

Scan the QR Code below, to RSVP.