You may have noticed the television in the gathering room last weekend. I've come across a series of 31 short videos which covers many different aspects of the Mass in short, understandable episodes. Each week we'll have 2 videos looping before and after each weekend liturgy. I hope they will help us all come to a better understand and appreciation of the Mass. During the remaining Sundays of Advent you'll see videos on the following topics:
The Role of the Parishioner
The Church Building
Processions in the Mass
Signs and Symbols
Sacramental Signs
Purpose of the Mass
On December 14th we host one of the Vicariate Reconciliation Services. I invite you to make the sacrament of confession a part of your Advent preparation. Several priests from our vicariate are coming to help Fr. Jeremy and myself. This is a good point to begin sharing some passages from Pope Francis' Apostolic Letter, Misericordia et
misera (Mercy with misery). In paragraph 10 he addresses all priests who hear confessions:
"I invite priests once more to prepare carefully for the ministry of Confession, which is a true priestly mission. I thank all of you from the heart for your ministry, and I ask you to be welcoming to all, witnesses of fatherly tenderness whatever the gravity of the sin involved, attentive in helping penitents to reflect on the wrong they have done, clear in presenting moral principles, willing to walk patiently beside the faithful on their penitential journey, far-sighted in discerning individual cases and generous in dispensing God’s forgiveness. Just as Jesus chose to remain silent in order to save the woman caught in adultery from the sentence of death, so every priest in the confessional should be open-hearted, since every penitent is a reminder that he himself is a sinner, but also a minister of mercy."