Dear Parishioners,

      This Sunday as we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent, we are exhorted in the collect, the opening prayer to the Mass, to “run forth to meet” Christ Jesus. The urgency in this prayer is palpable, as if it is meant to shock us awake.

      In some ways the season of Advent is about waking us up so that we might turn our attention away from our distractions and back to that which truly matters. The collect at Mass this weekend not only reminds us of the urgency with which we need to wake up from our distractions, but also reminds us that we are turning from our distractions to Someone, namely Jesus Christ.

      As we begin this season of Advent, the Church is trying to remind each of us that we desperately need to run to Jesus, to encounter Him anew as we prepare to celebrate His Incarnation. We can encounter Jesus anew in being more present to other people who have been created in His image and likeness. We can encounter Jesus anew in silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. We can encounter Jesus anew in the grace of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

      Advent this year will be very short, but that’s okay. If we just simply make the effort to stop and seek Him out, we will encounter with the Lord anew and that encounter can be life changing.

      On another note, later this week (Friday) we will celebrate the patronal feast of our country, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. This year, as every year, this feast is a holy day of obligation, so I hope to see all of you at Mass as we celebrate together the incredible gift of the Blessed Mother.

      Next week we will be celebrating Mary again as we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Please join us at St. Charles Borromeo to celebrate this great feast. More information is available at Mass and in the bulletin.

      Finally, we are planning on an Advent confession weekend. More information will be available next week.

Have a blessed week!

Fr. Jim Theby