Dear friends,
The Third Sunday of Advent is traditionally known as Gaudete Sunday, heralded in the beginning of the antiphon at the introit. Gaudete means “rejoice” in Latin, and the rose-colored vestments worn by the priests and deacons on this day are indicative of the joyful expectation of our Lord’s birth and Second Coming. In the first reading (35:2), the prophet Isaiah gives the people of Israel a reason to be filled with hope and joy. He says that “they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God … Be strong, fear not!” Then, in the Gospel of Matthew, we hear that Jesus, the glory and the splendor of our God made flesh, has indeed performed the many miracles that Isaiah had envisioned. When asked by John the Baptist if he is the Messiah, Jesus responds with (Mat 11: 4-6), “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” Fully immersed in the mystery of Advent, know that the clergy and staff of our parish are praying for you and your families as we prepare for the celebration of Christmas.
I am indebted to Heidi Pranzoni, our Music Director, and the members of our choir who shared their talents on Tuesday evening, 6 November, in a moving performance of Advent carols. It was a beautiful moment for us to join our ancestors in faith who cried out so passionately these same sentiments. Singing these lovely carols stirred our souls, uniting us to the people of Israel who desperately longed for their messiah. O Come, O Come Emmanuel lingers in our hearts and on our lips. I was, however, saddened by the poor response from our parishioners. May the Messiah who continues to knock at our doors find us ever more vigilant in hopeful anticipation of his coming.
Throughout the years, we have experienced numerous “scam” attempts by dishonest people who want to make a quick buck. At first, they were limited to emails impersonating the pastor’s name; of late, they are creating email addresses that are almost identical to those of the pastor. They have become so sophisticated with their craft that they are now sending messages to your phones, pretending to be the pastor and in need of money or gift cards. Please do not be deceived by these heartless imposters. They have no remorse at all yet use language that oozes with kindness and compassion.
What to look for in case you suspect that you are being scammed. One basic rule to remember: If it plays on your emotions or sounds too good to be true, it is most likely a scam. There are 3 signs you’re being scammed:
You’re told to act immediately. Imposters want you to act before you have time to think and may pretend to be a relative in need, a utility company, or even the Bank of America.
They ask for your personal info or codes. Never share codes or personal information when contacted unexpectedly by phone, text, email, computer alert, or social media.
You’re asked to pay in an unusual way. Be wary if asked to pay by wire transfer, gift card codes, or payment apps.
On Monday, 12 December, we will be celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. She was declared patroness of the Americas by Pope Pius XII and raised to the rank of a feast for all the countries of the Americas. As we celebrate this great feast of our Mother, I wish to announce that we will be going on a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe from 15-20 May 2023.
Pilgrimages are spiritual journeys that help us to experience God in a unique way with the goal of transforming hearts and minds. I have had the privilege of leading several pilgrimages with our parishioners, and one of the fruits of these journeys is the lasting bonds of friendship that develop and continue to be enriched through support of one another. It warms my heart to share in the many transformations of those on pilgrimage who find Christ and draw closer to him, developing new friendships as brothers and sisters who continue to prayer for each other.
Please also note that we will be going on an 11-day pilgrimage to Greece and Ephesus from 11–21, October 2023. More details will be coming soon.
Have a blessed week!
With love,
Fr. John