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

Happy Thanksgiving weekend! This year’s list of 10 things I am thankful for:

1. Capital Campaign: Mission Accomplished!

2. With the Capital Campaign success, I have started trying to get exercise and trim down a bit. I am off to a good start these last 10 weeks, but have a long ways to go!

3. Bacon, peanut butter & jelly burger. Even with #2, I still get to enjoy food sometimes!

4. Humility: all the sports teams I root for seem to be in meltdown mode.

5. The volunteers who worked more than full time hours to make the Capital Campaign happen!

6. Rectory life with priests who love being priests, laugh abundantly, and serve generously!

7. Our gigantic parish – I visited one of our small neighbors, and was surprised there was nobody there on a weekday.

8. Buc-ees beaver nuggets. Yep, a Texas gas station chain made the list, if you have been you may understand. Haha!

9. Chick-Fil-A diet lemonade! So tart, so delish!

10. Gym membership & trainer: parishioners helping me combat that 3 things on this list are still food!

A year ago I was in the Holy Land for the Feast of Christ the King. Since I am not a ’news hound,’ and because everything over there seems so chaotic, I pray often for the innocent folks who suffer as collateral damage in war. I have messaged some of my contacts in the Holy Land, and received positive, but anxious responses. All the more reason that we need to pray that Christ the King reign in our hearts, in His homeland, and everywhere.

Thx be to God!

Pax,

Father John Mosimann