The section of Luke which we read today comes from a section often called the "Prologue" because the first two chapters of Luke deal with the earliest days of the life of Jesus. They are in a sense the stories before the great story of the Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ. In fact, they are often called "the Infancy

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Mary Parish,

This brief letter is to offer my personal Greetings and Blessings for these Christmas Holidays. Please treasure the memories you make and the ones that you share from the past. The Pandemic Life has been taking its toll on all of us in obvious and subtle ways, so please think and speak words of Christmas joy. Please also remember in prayer those who feel sorrow and loss of loved ones at this Season.  We especially hold up in prayer in particular the Owen Family, their relatives, friends and neighbors. In our outside Christmas Crib and also in the Crib in the main church there will be a candle which is lit in memory of Shirley and for victims of Domestic Violence. May the peace of the Holy Stable fill the hearts of all who suffer from the effects of Domestic Violence.

In thinking about this weekend's scripture and one of the underlying themes in all of it, we are reminded of the wonderful saying of God writes straight with crooked lines. We learn in the scripture and perhaps from personal observations, we can discover God's presence in the most unexpected places and people. Those who are planners and have a need to be always in control or always be "right" do not like the crooked lines with which God writes. Often they feel threatened. Those who are able to see the hand of God in the crooked lines are amazed and grateful to him.

Church-wise we make a big deal about the Third Sunday in Advent and we call it Gaudete ("rejoice") Sunday. I think the major reason is "in the olden, olden days" people used to fast and perform many extra ascetic pious practices during Advent in preparation for Christmas. Thus, when folks were almost through the Season of Advent, they would rejoice that all that extra discipline and denial of self was almost at an end. They used the color rose as a visible sign in church that the end was almost there. In a sense, it is a weakened form of the color of red which is a major Christmas color. Our readings this weekend pick up the theme of the joy that is soon to be here and that the coming of the Light of the World will soon be celebrated. We pick up speed as we come closer and closer to Christmas Day. We can sense Christmas in the air and the liturgy at Mass helps us feel its closeness. The readings for this Sunday reflect this delight. In fact, the whole rhythm of Advent picks up today. We start proclaiming in song the "O Antiphons" beginning this week.

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Mary Parish,

This Sunday at 3 PM in our main church our Choir will offer a most wonderful “Lessons and Carols” Service. Our extraordinary choir will be offering various Christmas Carols interspersed with sacred scripture about the Birth of Jesus Christ. This is during daylight hours and it is a great opportunity to prepare spiritually for Christmas. This is also a wonderful service of less than one hour to take your children to. Afterwards visit our beautiful outdoor Christmas Crib outside on the St. Rocco Plaza.

We must always remember that the word "gospel" means "good news". This weekend our scripture abounds in "good news". We must remember as followers of Jesus Christ to spread His Good News to one and all by our daily words and actions.

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Mary Parish,

I hope everyone has recovered from the wonderful activities of Thanksgiving Day and Weekend. For many of us we saw family and friends for the first time in a long, long time and it was wonderful. Now all of us press on towards the Christmas Season. Advent is the four weeks of church time that helps us to prepare spiritually for Christmas. We are holding a Holy Hour and Benediction each Sunday evening from 7 to 8 PM in our chapel on the lower level of the church building. This would be an excellent way to spend some quiet time reflecting on the Birth of Jesus and your own daily life. Come and spend some time one of more of these Sundays.