No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen, any God but you doing such deeds for those who wait for him. (Isaiah 64:3b)

Advent is here! If there is a single theme that stands out for us during this COVID-19 pandemic, indeed, it is the theme of waiting, a time of living in expectation. What is your experience of waiting, waiting for your test results, waiting for COVID-19 vaccines, waiting for a baby to arrive, waiting for your loved one to be home, waiting for someone to visit/call you while you are in isolation? Waiting also is definitely a theme for this year Advent. Two major components of waiting are being watchful and being alert. Jesus said: Be watchful! Be alert!...Watch! (Mark 13:33a,37b) Advent waiting is not just something we have to do until we get what we want, but waiting is part of the process of becoming what God wants us to be. It is not a passive matter but one of intense urgency. We can almost hear the words: “Code Blue! Code Blue!” Something is happening. God is near if we have eyes to see and ears to hear. We are called to stand firm and wait for “the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor 1:7b) Jesus is the revelation of a Living God. He is our Redeemer. He comes so that we might have life and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10b) 

    During this Advent, unfortunately, we all have to waste some of our precious time waiting somewhere. At the airport, at the doctor’s office, at the bank, at the postal office, in an appointment with an unpunctual person… There is a good amount of waiting times we do not choose or plan. I invite you to utilize those times of waiting as an opportunity to pray, letting God know how much you need him in your life during this difficult time, asking God to give you the grace to wait and watch with expectation that He is near, here and now. When your days are dark and are empty, ask him to send an angel to comfort and point the way. You might consider praying the “Hail Mary” continuously, without counting, for the living and the deceased.

Almighty and eternal God, our refuge in every danger, to whom we turn in our distress; in faith we pray look with compassion on the afflicted, grant eternal rest to the dead, comfort to mourners, healing to the sick, peace to the dying, strength to healthcare workers, wisdom to our leaders and the courage to reach out to all in love,

so that together we may give glory to your holy name. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. (Collect: Mass in Time of Pandemic)

Hail Mary full of grace… And may the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Peace in Christ,

Father Vincent-Vuong Nguyen

St. Clare of Assisi

I invite you to join us at St. Clare’s Eucharistic celebration, 1st Week of Advent:

1) TODAY 9:00 AM (in person and livestream via facebook and our website) and 11:00 AM

2) My deepest gratitude to you for your financial support during this difficult time, your generosity will help us pay for the repair of our 30 years old air conditioning (HVAC)  system and sustain our various ministries at St. Clare. THANK YOU!

I am looking forward to welcoming y’all. Have a blessed weekend!

Air hug!

>-(^_^)-< 

and bear hug! 

>-ʕ •ₒ• ʔ-<