Second Week of Advent

As we enter the Second Week of Advent, I share with you a potpourri of activities that are taking place in our parish and in our Eastern Greece/Charlotte Catholic Churches.

1) Our Eastern Greece/Charlotte Penance Service will be hosted by Holy Cross Church on Sunday, December 19, at 3:00 PM. This year, the Penance Service will be more family oriented. Father Tom Wheeland will lead an adult and young adult Service in the Church proper. Our own Father Mark will conduct a special children’s program in the Parish Center. Individual Confessions will be available to all who have celebrated the Sacrament of Penance. I encourage our parishioners to prepare for the joy of Christmas by celebrating with us at this Family Penance Service.

2) David Tedesche, our seminarian in residence, conducted recently an 8-week Adult Education program, exploring the history and spirituality of the Fathers of our Church. Wherever I traveled in Greece and met folks who attended these adult learning sessions, I received positive and complimentary comments on the sessions. From my perspective, David is a skilled teacher and a budding scholar. I am grateful that he is sharing generously his talents with us. Starting in mid-January, David will be offering a series of adult learning sessions on the historical development of the Liturgy and the spirituality of the Eucharist as the source and summit of the life and mission of the Church. As more particulars develop regarding the day and time of the sessions, David will share them in the bulletin and on fliers. This will be such a timely opportunity to deepen one’s knowledge of the Eucharist as we prepare to welcome the new Roman Missal in Advent 2011.

3) Recently, I came across an excerpt from Pope Benedict XVI encyclical letter, Deus Caritas Est, that reminded me of the importance of participating in our Annual Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA). Pope Benedict wrote:

“Love for widows and orphans, prisoners, and the sick and needy of every kind, is as essential to her (the Church) as the ministry of the sacraments and the preaching of the Gospel. The Church cannot neglect the service of charity any more than she can neglect the sacraments and the Word.”

Once again, I encourage parishioners who have not yet participated in the CMA, to please do so. Your contribution is an authentic realization of the Holy Father’s teaching of the importance of charity in our Christian life. To participate is simple. Fill out the CMA card designating your contribution and place it in the collection basket at the time of the Offertory. Your gift, an expression of charity and gratitude, will strengthen our witness to Love-made-flesh. I am grateful to all who have already participated and helped us to realize $65,869 of our fair share giving with the target of $82,461.

During this Second Advent Week, wait patiently. Pray frequently. Do not drink and drive.

Father John