This week I have just started to feel Christmas in the air! Decorations in gardens and all over houses have started to twinkle and I have started to yearn for the English choral tradition, listening to Carols from Kings College on the internet…and there is a slight chill in the air, nice and English! This makes me and hopefully you tool expectant for the Feast and Season of Christmas. Expectancy is the word of the Advent. Mary would have been heavy laden by now, expectant with her child the Word of God soon to be born and transform the world. Joseph and Mary must have been sorting things out and planning their journey to Bethlehem from Nazareth, not an easy one over rough terrain for a pregnant Mother. We too must make our preparations for this great event. We can all get ready by availing ourselves of the opportunities to reflect and to reconcile ourselves for a worthy receiving of the gift of Christ at Christmas. We could attend the Mission this week 12, 13, 14 and / or join in the Parish Carol Service next Sunday 18th at 3pm and / or come to the Reconciliation Service for Advent on Wednesday 21st December at 7pm (there will be 12 confessors available).
Also this weekend we rejoice with our Hispanic members on Monday at the great Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe the Queen of the Americas. Mañanitas start at 5am.
I will be away from the parish starting Sunday evening. I am giving a mission to the parish of Sacred Heart on Ventura-Saticoy. I’ll be back late evening Thursday.
Thank you for your generosity to the Josephite Mission Appeal………$16,300! There is still plenty of time to donate using the Josephite Appeal envelopes.
God bless you, your families and the new Church year ahead,
May God bless you, your families, and the week ahead,
Fr Aidan Peter