Dear Friends,
!!!ALERT ALERT ALERT!!!
This year Christmas Eve falls on the 4th Sunday of Advent. We still need to observe our Sunday Mass Obligation AND our Holy Day Obligation by attending BOTH a 4th Sunday of Advent Mass and a Christmas Mass. There is NO "TWO FOR ONE" MASS OPTION on 24 December!!!
PICK 1: 4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
MASS TIMES:
Saturday 23 December @ 4:00PM
Saturday 23 December @ 6:30PM
Sunday 24 December @ 8:00AM
Sunday 24 December @ 10:00AM (Traditional Latin)
Please note that there is NO 5:00PM Vigil Mass on 23 December. There is NO 10:30AM, 1:00PM or 5:00PM Sunday Mass on 24 December!
PICK 1: CHRISTMAS
MASS TIMES:
Sunday 24 December @ 4:00PM
Sunday 24 December @ 7:00PM
Sunday 24 December @ 10:00PM
Monday 25 December @ 10:00AM
Monday 25 December @ 1:00PM (Traditional Latin)
Christmas is an eight day "DAY" in the Catholic Church. Please keep holy this Christmas DAY and keep the Christmas Season a special time in your life as well. The Christmas Season ends with the Baptism of the Lord on 8 January. Read more about Christmas and the Christmas Season on EWTN.
Please see my Christmas Wish List for items that the parish will eventually purchase when monies are made available or that can be purchased through your generosity. If you would like to purchase a specific item on the list just email me to discuss the exact costs and how to make your gift. Thank you in advance to all those who choose to make a gift to the parish at Christmas from this list.
LAST CHANCE TO GO TO CONFESSION BEFORE CHRISTMAS - ADVENT PENANCE SCHEDULE:
Advent Thursday Confessions:
21 December 6:00PM-7:30PM
Advent Saturday Confessions:
23 December 2:00PM-3:30PM
The ADVENT/CHRISTMAS SEASON SCHEDULE is at the end of this letter and can be downloaded HERE!
There will be Daily Masses the week of Christmas, 25-29 December. We will also have a 10:00AM Mass and a 12 Noon Mass (Latin) for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, on 1 January. (This is not a Holy Day of Obligation this year.)
For those who may be questioning Pope Francis' declaration Fiducia Supplicans (Providing Trust), Fr. Gregory West, the Pastor of St. Clare of Assisi Church in Daniel Island, SC, has written a succinct clarification of what this declaration means for the faithful. Please read Fr. West's letter to his parish HERE.
Faith Formation Classes, Youth Meetings and Bible Studies are on Christmas Break until 7 January!
The 2024 Parish Calendars are in! Please pick one up as you leave Church this Sunday.
The Parish Neighbors Epiphany Flyer can be viewed at the end of this email.
Pray for peace in the world and for protection from storms and other natural disasters.
Some brief, but important news and reminders:
There is NO 8:00AM or 10:30AM hospitality this weekend due to the Christmas Holiday.
PARISH OFFICES CLOSED: December 25-January 1, 2024. They will reopen on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, 9:00AM-1:00PM.
Peace and all good,
Fr. Dennis