FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Feast of Christ the King - November 23, 2025

Feast of Christ the King

St, Elizabeth Catholic Church

November 23, 2025

 FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings,

Today we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King and the last Sunday in Ordinary Time.  "Christ the King is one of the most important titles of Jesus.  Even though Jesus Christ was not a king in the earthly sense, He is the divine King of the Universe, who unites all of creation with the Father.  Each year we celebrate Christ's sovereignty on the last Sunday of the Liturgical year, the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time.  This year the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe is on November 23, 2025.  Pope Pius XI instituted this feast in 1925, but it was first celebrated in 1926." (ewtn.com)  You can read Pope Pius XI's full encyclical on the institution of the feast by clicking here!

 "As the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) gathered for their Fall Plenary Assembly in Baltimore, the bishops issued a Special Message addressing their concern for the evolving situation impacting immigrants in the United States.  It marked the first time in twelve years the USCCB invoked this particularly urgent way of speaking as a body of bishops." (usccb.org)  I read this statement at Mass this Sunday, but you can read it in the flyer in this bulletin or by visiting usccb.org.  We will have the webpages linked in our E-Bulletin Newsletter and our Parish Website.  I encourage everyone to read this very important statement.

Advent starts next week and if you look at the Advent/Christmas Schedule on the other page of the bulletin, you will see we have many things going on!  I encourage everyone to attend the Communal Reconciliation Service on December 13th.  Advent is a time where we are supposed to ready our hearts for Christmas.  One of the best ways to ready ourselves for this important season is to go to Confession.  The service will start with a group liturgy and prayer service; then we will have individual confessions.  We will have three priests from other parishes visit to hear confessions so there will be time for everyone who wants to participate.

I am keeping everyone in my prayers during this holiday season.  I pray that those who are traveling will reach their destinations safely and that families will be able to enjoy each others' company throughout the stress that the holidays can bring.

Blessings and Thanksgiving,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

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