Dear Parishioners,

Welcome to our Advent journey...

This weekend we step once again into the quiet beauty of Advent; a season not of frantic activity, but of vigilance, preparation, and holy readiness. While the world around us rushes into decorating, shopping, and baking, the Church invites us to something deeper: to pause, to breathe, and to become attentive to God's presence breaking into our lives.

The readings for this First Sunday of Advent remind us to be watchful and stay awake for the coming of the Lord. As Catholics, this call has two dimensions. We prepare our hearts for Christ's return in glory, yes; but just as importantly, we learn to recognize Him in the ordinary, unpolished moments of daily life. St. Thérèse of Lisieux offers us a beautiful example. Frustrated one day while sweeping a convent hallway, longing for the quiet of the chapel, she suddenly whispered, "Jesus, You are here too." In that moment, the chore became prayer, the hallway became a place of grace. She later wrote, "It is not the greatest task, but the love we put into it. Jesus is found in the smallest moments."

How true that is for us. Jesus does not hide Himself. It is often our busyness, our noise, our divided attention that keeps us from seeing Him. Advent invites us to wake up to His presence, especially in the simple, hidden corners of our lives.

To help us with this, our parish is becoming a Hallow Parish Partner, joining Catholics around the world in growing our life of prayer. We begin with an Advent prayer challenge titled Be Still, a journey alongside Mary and Joseph as they teach us what peaceful, trusting stillness looks like.

You'll find information in the center section of this bulletin about how to sign up. Through our parish subscription, you will have access to the Advent Challenge, Hallow's basic prayer features, and a discounted option for a full subscription if you wish to go deeper. In 2026, we will have the opportunity to form parish prayer groups, small communities of faith to strengthen our connection and support one another in prayer.

The Be Still challenge begins December 1st and leads us all the way to Christmas. I hope you will join me in this daily journey so that, together, we may grow in our ability to recognize Jesus in the quiet moments of our everyday lives.

May this Advent season teach us to Be Still - to slow down, to listen, and to allow God's gentle grace to find us.

Advent Peace, joy and stillness in Him,

Fr. Fred

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