Pastoral Corner

December 8, 2023

by Fr. Seamus Griesbach

Dear Parishioners,

     This past weekend I had Masses at the Cathedral and invited parishioners who desired to join me for Morning Prayer in the Chapel during the season of Advent this year. We’ve had 8 or 10 people show up each morning at 6AM to join me, and I’ve really been enjoying it, even though I am not exactly a morning person. If you would like to join us, please come to the Cathedral chapel door at 6AM any day until Christmas Eve. I bring the booklets with the prayers and it is easy to pick up if you have never prayed the Liturgy of the Hours before. Morning prayer takes about 20 minutes.

     This coming Friday, December 15^th, our Cathedral Choir is hosting Lessons and Carols, which is a beautiful Advent tradition. The liturgy will be led by Bishop Deeley and includes readings from scripture, selections from our Advent sacred music tradition, and prayers to help us prepare for Christ’s coming. I encourage everyone to come.

     Heads up: Christmas will fall on a Monday this year, which means that we will have a very, very short transition from Advent to Christmas! The 4^th Sunday of Advent is literally the eve of Christmas. Since so many Catholics go to Mass on Christmas Eve, this will mean that many will end up going to Mass twice on the 24^th this year: once in the morning to observe the 4^th Sunday of Advent, and once in the evening to celebrate Christmas Eve. Speaking with the Bishop and others knowledgeable about the liturgy, the Christmas Mass does not count as the Sunday Mass, so Catholics should not skip the 4^th Sunday of Advent, but instead observe both the Sunday and Christmas Masses, even if that might mean going to Mass twice on Sunday this year. It will be an extra-long day for the priests, but it does seem right to me that we should not just skip over the 4^th Sunday of Advent. And it is such a beautiful time of year to be in church together with all the decorations and the beautiful music and prayers. Hard to complain! But I do ask you to please say some prayers for those who are decorating our churches, as this year we have to transform them from Advent to Christmas in record time!

     Know of my prayers for all of you!