Longing for the Lord. Beginning the Church’s liturgical year, Advent is the season encompassing the four Sundays and weekdays leading up to the celebration of Christmas. The Advent season is a time of preparation. It centers our hearts and minds to the anniversary of Our Lord’s birth in Bethlehem. It focuses our minds on the arrival or “advent” of Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah and King. It also directs our hearts to Christ’s second coming at the end of time. Let this Advent be one of joyful preparation.
Tea’s the Season! Take a break from your busy schedule this Advent Season to prepare, not for the presents and wrapping, the decorating and baking. No, prepare yourself for the coming of the Lord and refresh your soul, after all, Tea’s the Season!
Tea’s the Season!
In the spirit of Advent, we warmly invite you to a Women’s Tea. Take a little time-out to focus on the Advent Season with faith and fellowship. Enjoy a traditional tea with decadent sweet treats. The day is an opportunity to pause and gather together to celebrate the joy and peace of this Season.
In the spirit of Advent and Christmas giving, we will be collecting a ‘free will’ donation for the St. Mary of Gostyn conference of St. Vincent de Paul. In addition to a highly active food pantry which serves over 40 neighboring families each week, SVDP also provides aid to those in our community who need emergency assistance (i.e., making mortgage, rent or utilities payments). SVDP also sponsors two clothing drives and is currently gearing up for the annual Christmas outreach program. For more than 35 years, St. Mary’s and SVDP Adopt-A-Family has helped 100+ families with a Christmas meal and presents. As an outreach of our parish, SVDP helps us to put our faith into action, helping our brothers and sisters in need.
Baking spirits bright! Cookie exchange! (completely optional) If you are interested in participating in a cookie exchange, please bring two dozen homemade holiday cookies and a container to bring your new goodies home!
Advent invites us to a commitment to vigilance, looking beyond ourselves, expanding our mind and heart in order to open ourselves up to the needs of people, of brothers and sisters, and to the desire for a new world.” (Pope Francis, Angelus, 2018)
Women’s Advent Tea
Tuesday, December 9th @ 1:00pm–3:00pm
In the Gathering Place
Come together with other women of the parish for an afternoon of fellowship, reflections, prayer and service. All are welcome – bring a friend – stop in before picking up the children, or grandchildren, from school. Mothers, daughters, friends and neighbors are all invited!
This event is free, and while an RSVP is not necessary, it is most helpful in planning.
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad. (Psalm 118:24)