Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church

Advent is here! I encourage you to pick up a Magnificat Advent Companion that we set out last week. This is great little devotional. Reminder that the 7 pm Sunday Masses are Candlelight Masses on Dec 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 31st. Yes… that means the 24th will be different, b/c it is Christmas Eve!

Speaking of Christmas Eve, get ready to go to two Masses in those days. Sorry, but there is no ’two-fer’ Mass that covers both days. Details are with the Christmas schedule, but be prepared to go to a Mass for the 4th Sunday of Advent, but also one for Christmas! Because Christmas Eve Masses will bump out some of our usual Sunday Masses, we will have extra Masses on Saturday Dec 23rd at Holy Cross Academy… but check out the schedule for details.

Also, this weekend the Marian Antiphon changes to the Alma Redemptoris Mater. I personally found this one the hardest for me to learn, but I think I have it down now. It is only around for Advent and Christmas seasons, so we don’t have as long to learn it.

If you wold like to hear it sung, here is a nice version on youtube (with a shortened link): https://tinyurl.com/464rzknu

Also, I think this translation from Wikepidia captures the meaning:

Loving Mother of the Redeemer,
who remains the accessible Gateway of Heaven, and Star of the Sea,
Give aid to a falling people
that strives to rise;
O Thou who begot thy holy Creator,
while all nature marvelled,
Virgin before and after
receiving that “Ave” from the mouth of Gabriel, have mercy on sinners.

May this Advent season be truly blessed for you and your family.

pax,

Father John Mosimann