Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church

In joyful expectation of Christ’s coming at Christmas, the Festival Choir of Saint Mary will present a service of Advent Lessons and Carols on Friday, December 17, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. In addition to the readings and choral anthems presented by the choir, there will an opportunity for the congregation to participate in singing carols of the Advent Season.

The tradition of the Festival of Lessons and Carols was established in England as the adaptation of an earlier service on Christmas Eve, 1918, in the chapel of Kings College, Cambridge University, for the university community and for the city of Cambridge. The Kings College service was first broadcast by radio in 1928; and, excepting the year 1930, these broadcasts have continued to this day. This wonderful tradition, moreover, has been duplicated in cathedrals and churches throughout America.

Come and prepare your hearts for Christ’s coming!

What preparations did the Lord make for His coming? Only one thing: the perfect Immaculate Soul of His Mother. That’s it. They didn’t have a place to stay, they didn’t have a fancy hospital, or a perfectly prepared baby- room. Going to confession is the BEST possible preparation you can make to celebrate Christmas.

This year, we have again added many more opportunities for you to celebrate this great Sacrament of the Lord’s mercy. I won’t repeat the whole schedule, because it is in the calendar that we have already been running in the bulletin.

However, the eagle-eyed will notice that this year we added confessions on Sunday the 12th and Sunday the 19th. Set so that there are times before 2 Masses this week, and before two different Masses next week. Fr. Koehr has been offering these at Spanish Mass for a time, and in his wild-eyed young priest enthusiasm said, “Why not Sundays for everyone?” Well, I like adding more confessions / adoration / Masses, so why not?

I am very grateful to have a great rectory, with priests who are generous and wiling to serve you without reservation.

You are invited to return to the great Sacrament of the Lord’s mercy. Catholics come home!

pax et bonum,

Father John Mosimann

Had a conversation with my sister on Thanksgiving regarding “digging for gold.” This compelled me to research a bit on how to dig for gold. Interesting.

If you are prospecting for gold, you have to learn to ignore all the dirt and look for the shine of the gold. This requires patient sifting. As you sift, the gold goes to the bottom of the pan, by using water to wash over the pan and carry away the lighter dirt.

In our relations with others, we can learn to do the same: ignore the dirt, let grace wash and carry away the grime of sin that is preventing us from seeing the other person in the bright light of the Lord. Grace is the precious matter that will remain when the Lord sifts sin out of our lives.

We all do well to dig for gold in the souls of others, so that we might see the work the Lord is doing in their lives. Also, so that we might know that all is a gift and precious.

Additionally, I want to commend Catholic Charities Migration & Refugee Services for the lovely work that they have done in welcoming refugees. Most of these families are from Afghanistan, and risked their lives and families to help our efforts there over the last 20 years. Thanks for your generosity in helping to provide Thanksgiving meals for these families. See the pictures here in the bulletin.

Next weekend’s second collection will go to Catholic Charities for the many wonderful works that they are engaged in.

pax et bonum,

Father John Mosimann