From the Desk of Father Tharp
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Guest Priests to Help at Christmas
Fr. Schmitz will be out of town for a few days; therefore we will have guest celebrants for Sunday Morning the 23rd at St. Ann, and guest celebrants for Christmas Morning at St. Ann. I (Fr. Tharp) will have the Christmas Eve Masses at St. Ann at 5:00 p.m. and at 10:00 p.m. The priest from Glenmary who celebrated last year at Midnight at St. Ann will do so again this year. Schedules showing celebrants for Christmas and New Years will be available in next week’s bulletin.
Confession Schedule leading up to Christmas
As usual, I will have confessions at Sacred Heart on Tuesday, December 18 at 6:30 p.m. I will have confessions on Wednesday, December 19 at St. Ann from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. so as not to infringe on Choir Practice. I will have confessions at Sacred Heart as usual on Saturday morning December 22 after the 8:00 a.m. Mass (in other words starting at 8:30 a.m.) If there is a funeral, I will have to stop at 9:30 or 10:00 a.m. In the unlikely event there is no funeral at either church, I will stay in the confessional until all are heard.
Reflection on Scripture
Gaudate! Rejoice. On the Third Sunday of Advent we light the pink candle and conclude “Early Advent” a time for reflecting on the Second Coming. As of December 17 (Monday) we begin celebrating “Late Advent” when we reflect on and anticipate the first coming of Christ at Christmas.
The first two readings from Zephaniah and Philippians both suggest rejoicing. In the gospel, John the Baptist explains what constitutes a life of joy. In essence it is doing the right thing. It seems safe to say that John the Baptists words still hold true today. “Don’t act is selfishness. Put the needs of others before your own. Abandon greed. Live compassion.” In words similar to these, John recites the formula for a happy and fulfilling life. If you see Christ in others, and you live in deliberate compassion, you will know the joy of serving Christ; and this is the ultimate joy.
Next Weekend: Fourth Sunday of Advent
Mi 5:1-4a
Heb 10:5-10
Lk 1:39-45
Theme: The Visitation