As we get closer to the end of the liturgical year, our
Sunday readings turn to the end times. The scenes are rife with
natural disasters and pervasive turmoil; but the faithful need not
fear according to Jesus in the Gospel of Luke (21:19):
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.
Our life together as a parish family is characterized
by Gospel living, and as we get to the end of the liturgical
and calendar years, I want to take a few sentences to speak
of the ways we can witness the Gospel as we prepare for
Christmas and accompany one another in the year ahead.
The holidays are rich with celebrations and time with
friends and family, but for some those days are filled with
challenge. We have an opportunity to help the poor through
our Thanksgiving food drive, the Christmas Stars, and the
New Canaan Giving Box that assists our friends in town to
have a merrier Christmas than they thought they would have.
If you are struggling and would like someone to walk
with you through a difficult time, please reach out to our
Stephen Ministry. This weekend Michael Crane from Stephen
Ministry will speak about this ministry of accompaniment.
More than a few parishioners have said there is a
need for religious Christmas and other greeting cards, so I
invited Sister Rose Marie from the Sisters of Notre Dame to
offer her beautiful cards this weekend at all the Masses. All
sales help fund the missionary work of the sisters.
I’m truly looking forward to our annual Advent-
Christmas concert on December 14. This year’s theme is
“Hope”. Mark your calendars now and invite friends and
family to join you at 2pm on that Sunday afternoon. Our
choirs and orchestra always inspire!
We put the Christmas schedule of Masses on the
website a few days ago. But before you get to Christmas
Mass, receive the gifts of forgiveness, mercy, and grace at
the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In addition to the usual
Saturday afternoon confessions, pray with us at one of the
many Holy Hours with Confession in December.
The “end times” reminder is a spiritual wake -up call
to prepare us for that day when the Lord (the “sun of justice”
according to this Sunday’s first reading) will return to gather
us to himself. If we spend today living as Jesus would have
us live, any fear of what is to come will be replaced by joyful
anticipation. I pray that our parish family will spend the
weeks ahead walking with one another giving thanks for
“what God has ready for those who love Him.”
Yours in Christ,
