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Pastor’s Message on the Third Sunday in Advent

Pastor’s Third Sunday of Advent Message

~ Part of this week’s Gospel message challenges us to ask ourselves: “For what would I ‘go to the wall’?” In other words, for what truths of our Catholic Faith would we allow ourselves to be thrown into prison? St John the Baptist was thrown into prison when he bore witness to the sanctity and indissolubility of marriage. Of all the many truths from God, John “goes to the wall” over this one. However, seeing Jesus as having made a sacred union (a “marriage” of sorts) between Heaven and Earth by virtue of His Incarnation, we begin to see the deeper meaning of John “going to the wall” for the sanctity of marriage: one of an earthly understanding of marriage; the other, of a divinely spiritual understanding. Additionally, Jesus is ‘the Way, the Truth, and the Life’: As Truth, Himself suffered and died for us, would we not consider reciprocating that kind of commitment and love by suffering and dying for the Truth, Jesus Christ . . . Who is the Bridegroom . . . and we, being members of His Bride, the Church!?!

DIY Advent Wreath

Feast Days & Solemnities during Advent & Christmas

Feast Days and Solemnities (from Dynamic Catholic)

A feast day is a day in which we honor the life of a particular saint. This is typically their birth or death date. A solemnity celebrates an important aspect of our Catholic faith. There are several important feast days and solemnities that fall during Advent and Christmas that can add joy to your preparations!

December 6: Feast of St. Nicholas

How to Celebrate: Children leave a pair of shoes or a stocking out to receive candy or small gifts from St. Nicholas

December 8: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

How to Celebrate: This is a Holy Day of Obligation, so Catholics should attend Mass. We celebrate the Catholic doctrine that Mary was conceived completely free of original sin. One way to honor the day is to sing Marian songs like “Ave Maria.”

December 13: Feast of St. Lucy

How to Celebrate: Lucy comes from the Latin word lux which means light. She is a very popular saint in Sweden. On the morning of December 13th, the oldest daughter wears all white and a crown with candles and serves a sweet treat like saffron buns to the rest of the family.

January 1: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

How to Celebrate: This is also a Holy Day of Obligation, so Catholics should attend Mass. We can also pray a rosary as we start the new year.

January 6: The Epiphany

How to Celebrate: The Epiphany is the last of the twelve days of Christmas. It’s the day we celebrate the arrival of the magi who worshiped Jesus. There are many ways to celebrate this final day of Christmas. Some give gifts. Some eat King’s Cake, which has a hidden figure of baby Jesus inside. And some bless their home by using blessed chalk to write 20 + C + M + B + 22 over the front door. 20 is the first two numbers of the year, the three letters stand for the three magi named in the Bible (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar), and 22 is for the last two numbers of the year.

DIY Jesse Tree

Growing Disciples Update: “Who’s Who?”

A Message from Father Chase Hilgenbrinck, Vocations Director of Recruitment for the Diocese of Peoria and a member of the Core Team for Growing Disciples. This is the first in a series of videos, recorded by members of the Core Team, which are meant to provide all of the faithful with tactical information and updates regarding Growing Disciples.

This video includes information on the teams and individuals who are supporting and advising Bishop Tylka in leadership of the pastoral planning process.

Advent & Christmas Perspective & Ideas

Advent & Christmas Perspective & Ideas

~ As we gear up for the busy-ness of Advent and Christmas, let us make a firm resolution to keep Christ at the center of these seasons. Here are some suggestions:

* make certain you have an Advent Wreath and light it as many evenings throughout Advent as possible (wreath lighting prayers can be found both in the bulletin and on our website)

* attend the Illinois Wesleyan University's Christmas Concert at Holy Trinity Church on Sunday, December 3rd, at 3:00pm;

* include some spiritual testimonial or religious insight in the Christmas cards you write and send;

* pray the 'Christmas Novena', beginning December 16 and ending on Christmas Eve day;

* listen to beautiful religious Christmas music;

* put a Nativity Scene somewhere prominent in your home;

* when hosting a Christmas party, start with a prayer and have a Christmas prayer at all the table settings;

* place religious items in your front yard for all to see;

* consider spending time in Eucharistic Adoration;

* engage yourself more deeply in a relationship with Jesus by going to Confession;

* attend at least one weekday Mass throughout Advent and Christmas;

* volunteer in a parish ministry or outreach ministry.

Additionally, we have a webpage designated to Advent and Christmas. Take some time to see what is available there to enrich your spiritual life. I pray you have a happy and holy Advent and Christmas.

~Fr Stirniman~

Pastor’s Reflection on the First Sunday of Advent

Pastor’s Reflection at First Sunday of Advent

~ The season of Advent begins the Church’s liturgical year. Certainly it is proper for us to have spiritual resolution for this “new year.” Advent prepares us for the coming celebration of Christ, at Christmas. Looking at Advent a bit more broadly, we prepare for Christ’s coming at Christmas. Additionally, we prepare for Christ’s SECOND coming; and the proper and effective way we carry out this preparation is by having and keeping our spiritual resolutions . . . along with the daily help the Church provides us: with Her Sacraments, Her prayers, and the virtues by which She reminds us to live. May all of us this Advent season, resolve to not be drawn into the consumerism of our culture’s misunderstanding of this season but rather, keep Christ at the center of this season . . . and ALL seasons of the liturgical year.