FATHER JIM'S JOTS - First Sunday of Advent - December 1, 2024

St Elizabeth Church

First Sunday of Advent

December 1, 2024

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Today is the first Sunday of Advent which marks the first day of the New Liturgical Year!  I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that those who are traveling back home after visiting their relatives have a safe journey to their destinations.

This Sunday I would also like to thank Msgr. Walter Barrett for visiting while I am in Michigan.  We will have a Communion Service at 12 p.m. led by Dcn. Chris on Wednesday, Dec. 4th.  I will return to Richmond December 5th so we will resume our usual Daily Mass schedule on Friday December 6th and since it is the first Friday of the month we will have an hour of Exposition and Adoration after Mass.

"The word "Advent" is from the Latin word, adventus, for "coming" and is associated with the four weeks of preparation for Christmas.  Advent always contains four Sundays, beginning on the Sunday nearest the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle (November 30) and continuing until December 24.

During Advent, Catholics celebrate the season with an Advent wreath.  The wreaths are made with a circle of evergreen branches (symbolizing life) and hold four candles representing the four weeks of Advent."  During this time, we can work to prepare ourselves for the Christmas by praying (including the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary), reading Sacred Scripture, and going to Confession, daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration.

 As a reminder:

- Our Campaign for Tomorrow will be running until the start of Lent, all information regarding the campaign will be updated on our website here:  stelizcc.org/our-campaign-for-tomorrow/

- Advent Materials are now available.  You can purchase your 2025 Reading God's Word book in the Parish Office or pick up your free Little Blue Book of Advent Reflections and the 2025 Catholic Art Calendar after Mass in the Church.

~ We will have a Communal Reconciliation Service and Advent Retreat on December 14th.  For more information, please see the other page of this Bulletin.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor