First Week of Advent

Dear Parishioners,

A blessed Advent to you all!  This weekend we begin to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ into the world.  Unlike lent, advent is a time of moderate penance with a focus upon the anticipation and joy of the Nativity of our Lord.  This year our parish will be handing out books on confession.  These books are great as aids to see the depth of the merciful love of God who encounters sinful man and woman in the humility of Penance.  Please feel free to take extra books with you to give to family members, friends, acquaintances, or strangers!

This year, the Holy Day of the Immaculate Conception falls on Monday, December 8th.  The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has made it clear that this is a Holy Day of Obligation, since our Blessed Mother under this title is the Patroness of the United States of America.  As such, our parish will be having an evening vigil Mass on Sunday, Oct. 7th at 5:30 pm at St. Joseph.  Mass during the day will be 7:00 am at St. Joseph and 5:30 pm at St. Mary.  To help you with planning, please read through the following information.

-        The obligation for Sunday is fulfilled by any Mass Saturday evening through Sunday night.

-        The obligation for the Holy Day is fulfilled by any Mass Sunday evening through Monday night.

 In other words, an individual could attend Mass Sunday morning and have all the prayers and readings for the 2nd Sunday of Advent and fulfill their Sunday obligation; then go to Mass that evening (which would have all the prayers and readings for, again the 2nd Sunday of Advent) and fulfill their obligation for the Immaculate Conception.

Further, I would like to invite all our parishioners of St. Joseph and St. Mary to an Advent Open House at St. Joseph’s rectory on Saturday, December 13th, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.  Snacks and Refreshments will be provided, so please feel free to stop by and hang out!

In Christ,

Fr. Luke Fleck