From the Pastor’s Desk
Dear Parishioners,
We have reached the 4th and last Sunday of the Advent season. This week the Church will celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. I do hope that these last weeks of Advent have been a time of spiritual renewal and preparation, as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Christ the Lord. Our scripture readings for Mass today point us spiritually to the birth of Christ in Bethlehem. The gospel passage depicts the visit our Blessed Mother Mary makes to her cousin Elizabeth. John the Baptist, already in the womb of his mother Elizabeth, leaps for joy when he hears the voice of Mary. He knows the voice of the mother of the Savior. On this last Sunday of Advent, we continue to pray that through the powerful intercession of Mary, our hearts will leap for joy at the coming of the Lord Jesus.
For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission
As I mentioned in last week’s bulletin letter, our Holy Father Pope Francis has called the entire Catholic Church to participate in the upcoming Synod of Bishops. The word “synod” simply means gathering. The Holy Father has called all Catholics to journey together with their bishops. This Synod is a process of journeying together by listening, dialoging, praying, discerning and making decisions together for the purpose of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Here in the Diocese of Brooklyn, each parish has been asked to hold a listening session based on questions that have presented by the Bishops of the Church. These questions will be published in next week’s bulletin. We will hold a listening session the first week in January. From that listening session, our responses will then be compiled and given to Bishop Brennan, who will then report back to the Bishops of the United States. You will hear more information about the Synod as we get closer to the listening session date.
Advent Vespers and Eucharistic Adoration
This Tuesday, December 21, we will have our last Tuesday evening Vespers with Eucharistic Adoration. It will take place at Our Lady of Victory Church beginning at 7:30PM. The service will be livestreamed, but all are welcomed to join us for prayer.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Mass Schedule
This Friday, December 24, is Christmas Eve. Masses for Christmas Eve will be as followed: 6:30PM Family Mass at St. Peter Claver Church, 11:00PM Carol Sing followed by Mass at Midnight at Our Lady of Victory Church. On Saturday, December 25, Mass will be celebrated at 9:00AM at Holy Rosary Church and 10:00AM at Our Lady of Victory. Please note there will not be a 5:00PM Mass at St. Peter Claver Church on Christmas Day. The Sunday schedule will remain the same.
On behalf of the entire parish staff here, I wish all of you a blessed and joyful Christmas. May the light of the newborn King illumine our world with his love, mercy and peace. O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Father Alonzo Q. Cox