Happy Advent!
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!
The Fourth Sunday of
Advent is our only day for the fourth week of Advent this year, so if it seems
like Christmas has arrived faster than usual this year, it is because it
has! Today we will have only three of
our four Sunday Masses, and then we work to get things ready for all the
Christmas celebrations. This has been
organized down to a fine art at St. Timothy Parish.
First, there is the
clean up from the weekend Masses. Pews
are cleared of debris left behind and kneelers are put up. Missalettes, Bibles and Catechisms are put
back neatly in their holders. Everything
is made ready in the church for those who will gather for Christmas. Extra chairs are put out for the first Mass
in the aisles and down the hall.
Then, decorations are
put up for the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord. Some of these go back many years. Every year, they are placed around the
sanctuary in a way that truly makes our simple church beautiful for the Coming
of the Lord. We can be grateful to all
who have been our mainstay in letting us know the local traditions. The Kanakkanatt family in particular has
helped us year by year; we all miss Annette especially during these days. (In her honor, you may have noticed, the old
sacristy is being remodeled for the present-day team of sacristans who have
taken up Annette’s mantel.)
All that is left is to
be ready to welcome everyone who comes to be with us for Christmas. Remember, you who are present week after week
are the ministers of welcome. We are grateful
for the families who make up our parish community. We have been charged with the mission to be a
parish family in such a way that we welcome many others into the Family of God.
A Blessed Christmas to
all!
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