November 27, 2021
Dear Friends in Christ,
Happy First Sunday of Advent to you all! As we celebrate this first day of our new liturgical year tomorrow, I invite you to reflect on this new church season, during which we prepare for the coming of our Lord -- both, in the anniversary of his joyous birth at Christmas and in his second coming when he returns to earth at the end of time. It is the return of Jesus Christ that our Gospel Reading from Luke addresses, urging us to prayerfully wait but to be prepared.
Like last Sunday’s Gospel reading from Mark, this Sunday’s Gospel reading finds Jesus Christ telling his disciples the signs in nature that will presage the Big Event – the sun, moon, and stars disturbed and the oceans awoken with fury. But in this Gospel passage, Jesus Christ has pointed advice for his disciples – and us – on that last day:
“But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.”
Jesus is telling us clearly that, when he returns, we must be prepared people. We shall have loved and taken care of one another. We are to have followed his Father’s commandments. When the Son of Man returns, it will be no cake walk – Jesus Christ prays for our strength that we escape the tribulations we will face upon his coming. This is not meant to frighten us, but to remind us to live according to his will – that despite whatever circumstances he might throw at us or catastrophes might befall us, we will come through in prayer, in community, and in faith.
As we embark this weekend on the Advent season, I wish you all the glorious preparations of this season. At the same time, I pray you all prepare your minds and hearts for Jesus Christ’s return. We know not the day nor the hour, so let us be ready for him.
Have a blessed start to this season of Advent!
Yours in Christ,
Fr. John
Saturday, November 27:
- Christmas Tree Sale opens from 9 am-8 pm on the church grounds.
- Confession from 3:30-4:30 pm in the St. Clare Chapel of the Rectory. Heard by Fr. William Brailsford.
- Mass at 5 pm in church. Celebrated by Fr. John Dillon. Mass Readings.
- Evening Prayer at 7:30 pm. Hosted by parishioner Mark O’Brien.
Sunday, November 28:
- Morning Prayer at 7:30 am. Hosted by parishioner Lois James.
- Mass at 8 am in church. Celebrated by Fr. John Dillon. Mass Readings.
- Christmas Tree Sale opens from 9 am-8 pm on the church grounds.
- Mass at 9:30 am in church. Celebrated by Fr. John Dillon. Mass Readings.
- Mass at 11:15 am in church. Celebrated by Fr. Roberto Amoruso. Mass Readings.
- Mass at 5 pm in church. Celebrated by Fr. Ted Hegnauer. Mass Readings.
- Evening Prayer at 7:30 pm. Hosted by parishioner Ruth Hutchins.
Monday, November 29:
- Morning Prayer at 7:30 am. Hosted by parishioner Lois James.
- Mass at 9 am in church. Celebrated by Fr. John Dillon.
- Virtual parish Rosary at 4 pm. Led by Fr. John Dillon.
- Evening Prayer at 7:30 pm. Hosted by parishioner Lois James.
Tuesday, November 30:
- Morning Prayer at 7:30 am. Hosted by parishioner Lois James.
- Mass at 9 am in church. Celebrated by Fr. John Dillon.
- Evening Prayer at 7:30 pm. Hosted by parishioner Barnaby Walsh.
Parish Resources:
See our Advent events
Join us this Advent in preparing for the birth of our Lord and Jesus Christ’s second coming!
- Spirit Tree gift card project after all Masses in the Gathering Space. Choose an ornament off the Spirit Tree to help a family with a gift card with which they can buy food for the holidays; you can return the gift cards using the envelopes next to the Spirit Tree. For more information, contact Director of Social Concerns and Adult Faith Formation Tony Bosnick at abosnick@sfadw.org.
- Saturday, November 27-Sunday, December 5: Parish Christmas Tree Sale on the church grounds. Join us to buy your Christmas tree and fresh Christmas wreath and please volunteer to help with sales. The sales shifts are weekends from 9 am-12 pm; 12-3 pm; 3-6 pm; and 6 pm to close. Weekday sales shifts are from 3-6 pm and 6 pm to close. Sign up to volunteer.
- Saturday, November 27: Lighting the Advent wreath in church. Individuals, couples, and families are sought to light the Advent wreath in the church at all weekend Masses during Advent. Sign up to light the wreath.
- November 27/28, December 11/12 and 18/19: Sale of right-to-life Christmas cards after all Masses in the Gathering Space. Come buy Christmas cards that respect the dignity of life and benefit right-to-life organizations. For more information, contact Marianne Bullen at mariannebu@comcast.net.
- December 4/5: Olivewood sales after all Masses in the Gathering Space. Come browse handmade religious items made by families in the Holy Land. For more information, contact Tony Bosnick at abosnick@sfadw.org.
- December 4/5 and 11/12: Sale of Alternative gift cards after all Masses in the Gathering Space. Take the commercial emphasis off Christmas by purchasing services at local and global nonprofit organizations that benefit people in need. Contact Pat O’Connor at leafs20879@aol.com or Doris Chung at dichung14@gmail.com for more information.
- Monday, December 13: Parish Penance Service, 7 pm in the church. Receive forgiveness for your sins during this communal prayer service, at which several priests will hear Confessions. For more information, contact the Parish Office at (301) 840-1407.
- Thursday, December 16: Talk by Dr. John Grabowski, 7:30 pm in the Parish Center. Dr. Grabowski, the Ordinary Professor of Moral Theology/Ethics at The Catholic University of America in Washington DC, will speak to parishioners as part of our 50th anniversary speaker series. For more information, contact Director of Social Concerns and Adult Faith Formation Tony Bosnick at abosnick@sfadw.org.
