FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Third Sunday of Advent - Gaudete Sunday - December 14, 2025

 St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Third Sunday of Advent

Gaudete Sunday

December 14, 2025

 FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings,

Today, we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent!  This Sunday is also known as Gaudete Sunday (Gaudete - the Latin word for "Rejoice").  If you attend 8:30 a.m. Mass, you will hear this Sunday's Entrance Antiphon:  "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice.  Indeed, the Lord is near."  The Entrance Antiphon comes from the Missal, and we speak it before the 8:30 a.m. Mass if there is no opening hymn.

We are 10 days away before we celebrate the Birth of Christ.  This Sunday, we rejoice that "the Lord is near" and for the next 10 days we should continue to prepare our hearts, minds and souls for the Christmas season.  For one or a few days, I encourage you to join the online Rosary group that meets every day at 7 p.m. (Zoom link is on our website).  We will hold Confessions from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. on December 24th.

Our Christmas Mass Schedule is the following:

Christmas Eve - Wednesday, December 24th:  Reconciliation Service from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.

Christmas Eve - Wednesday, December 24th:  Children's Program at 5 p.m., Vigil Mass at 6 p.m.

Christmas Day - Thursday, December 25th:  Mass at 9 a.m.

New Years' Eve - December 31st:  Mass for Peace and Vigil of the Solemnity of Mary:  Mass at 5 p.m.

I would like to say congratulations to the winners of our Annual Raffle that was drawn on Homecoming Sunday.  The prizes went to friends of the Parish and parishioners, The Meyrieux Family, Delores Thompson and Ray Murray.

Lastly, I would like to say thank you to everyone who participated in the Christmas Giving Tree!  It means so much to our parish and community families that children will have presents for Christmas.  There has also been a tremendous response to our Parish Food Pantry.  Thank you for all of your support!  If you would like to learn more about contributin to our food pantry, please speak to Sister Mary Mwangi on Sundays or email her at mmwangi@stelizcc.org.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

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