We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name.

With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts;

Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it.

We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder.

Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path

nor partiality influence our actions.

Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life

and not stray from the way of truth and what is right.

All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time,

in the communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever.

Amen.

December 4-5

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Pope Francis has recently called for a Church-wide Synod in order to address serious issues that are presently affecting the Church.  During this Synod process he desires to hear from Catholics throughout the world.  Everyone’s participation is encouraged and the information received over the next year and a half will be collated and presented to the Holy See prior to the Bishops’ Synod with the Holy Father in 2023.  In the meantime, both on the diocesan and parish level, discussions will be taking place to address the questions and concerns presented.

One of the foundations of the Catholic Faith is belief that God is present in each and every person.  The Church values the art of listening and has used the concept of Synodality as a means of listening to the voice of Christ alive in believers.  Synod is a gathering of members of the Church who invoke the power of the Holy Spirit to enlighten and guide both individuals and the collective body to arrive at healthy and peaceful solutions.  As a parish we will have our first of several listening sessions on Wednesday evening December 15th at 7 pm in Holy Family Hall (St. John’s).  In preparation for the gathering I ask those who will be in attendance to go to the Diocese of Scranton website and peruse the information regarding the Synod.  There are several surveys to review. Please be sure to answer and be prepared to bring your response to the meeting.  Let us remember that our participation is always to be carried out in the utmost charity and concern for one another.

On behalf of our parishioners and myself I extend our thanks to Hessling Funeral home for the beautiful calendars for 2022.  As always, they reflect the best in Catholic Art and are truly inspirational.  And our thanks to the anonymous donor of the two angel wreaths on the doors of St. Mary Magdalen.   Mysteriously they appear every year and I don’t know who to personally thank but they certainly are a sign of someone’s love for their parish.

Advent Blessings to All, 

Father Langan

November 27-28

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ, 

Often in life things happen quickly and we find ourselves unprepared.  So it seems with Advent. Who hasn’t asked themselves,”… you mean it’s here already? Indeed it is! Happily this year we have nearly four full weeks of this season of preparation before  we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus  Christ. How then shall we use this time? Let us look  to what mothers do when they anticipate the birth  of their child. A nursery is generally cleaned, painted,  decorated and made into a welcoming place for the  newborn. There is extraordinary excitement even in  the midst of calm and meditative waiting. These very  common responses of an expectant mother are also  a profound lesson for how we can prepare our souls  for the birth of Christ. 

Of course, Our Lord has already been born, but spiritually He desires to be, in a sense, born again in our  hearts and souls. Thus we must prepare ourselves  for that rebirth. We ask, “Have I prepared my soul to  welcome the King?” Has our soul become cluttered  and dusty with sin? Is it a fitting place to welcome a  new-born? God in His mercy and graciousness has  given us the means to prepare the nursery of our  souls—Confession, the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  During Advent, amid the hustle and bustle of the  season, our first priority should be to make a good  Confession. As you know, your priests are available  daily, before and after Mass to hear confessions. We  also have, at St Mary Magdalen, Confessions from  10:30 to 12 noon every Saturday. In case of a funeral  we will hear confessions at St John’s. 

May God bestow wondrous graces upon you during  this Holy Season as we prepare for the Coming of the  Lord. 

In His Peace, 

Father Langan