St. Elizabeth Church 

Second Sunday of Advent

November 10, 2023

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!!

We hear that Advent is a season of preparation for the celebration of the coming of Christ at Christmas.  How do we prepare ourselves during this period?

Firstly, is to pray more.  The Five Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary are traditionally prayed on Mondays, Saturdays and during the season of Advent on Sundays.  Every day at 7 p.m. on Zoom, members of St. Elizabeth Parish pray the rosary together.  All are welcome to join and the link can be found in the E-Bulletin every week.

"Advent is considered the Little Lent as it begins by recalling that Christ will come at the end of the world as Judge, a reminder of the holiness with which we should be prepared to greet the Lord.  Although not strictly a penitential season, the faithful should turn their hearts toward Jesus in prayer, almsgiving and sacrifice."

Another way to prepare ourselves is to go to confession at least once during the Advent season. This Saturday, December 16th, we will have a communal reconciliation service at 12 p.m.  There will be a light lunch in the Parish Hall afterwards.  We will have several priests here to hear confessions.  All are welcome!  We will also have Confessions on December 23rd at 10 a.m.  Please see the flyer in this week's bulletin for a guide to an examination of Conscience and the Act of Contrition.  You are welcome to bring this with you to confession and we will have extra copies available on December 16th and 23rd.

Please consider joining us on December 16th for a parish retreat, led by Sr. Anns James, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.  This will take place before the reconciliation service and will be themed on the "Care of Creation."  Please email Sr. Anns James (anns@stelizcc.org) to register.

Prayer for Advent

Lord, our God, we praise You for Your Son, Jesus Christ, for He is Emmanuel, the Hope of all people.  He is the Wisdom that teaches and guides us.  He is the Savior of us all.  O Lord, let your blessings come upon us as we light two (purple) candles of this wreath.  May the wreath and its light be a sign of Christ's promise of salvation.  May He come quickly and not delay.  We ask this in His holy name.  Amen.

(Advent info and prayer from ewtn.org)

Blessings,

Fr. Jim

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