December 11-12

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Glorious feast of our Lord’s Nativity is coming and the vesture of the day, marked by the color rose, reminds us that He Who is the light of the world comes to dispel the darkness of sin and its consequences. We indeed rejoice on this Gaudete Sunday.  Rejoicing comes easy when we are unburdened from our sins and so we heed the herald’s call for repentance.  People asked the Baptist:  “What are we to do?”  In other words, How are we to get ready? And he clearly reminds them that there must be a change of heart and mind.

We have the wonderful advantage of living in anticipation of the Second Coming of the Lord.  We think of the blessed gifts we have already received from the Lord, the Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation and all of the Seven Sacraments.  Before Jesus came the ancients had the Word of God and His Holy Law.  We are so privileged to have God Himself in our midst.  What more could we possibly ask for?

Perhaps what we could ask for is the return to the Faith of those who have drifted from it.  Christ and Him alone is the reason to have faith and in His unbounded generosity to us has given, in the fullness of the Catholic Church, all we need.   Therefore let us rejoice, and as we make our final preparations for the celebration of Christmas, repent and find solace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Thanks to all who prepared and beautifully decorated Holy Family Hall for the reception of Father Dominic and our new parishioners.

Please remember that this coming Wednesday evening in Holy Family Hall at 7 PM,   we will have the first of our listening sessions in preparation for the upcoming synod.  In preparation you are encouraged to review on the Diocese of Scranton website the questions that will be addressed.  All are welcome to attend and participate.

With Blessings,

Father Langan