First Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 1, 2024
Beginning the Church’s liturgical year, Advent (from, “ad-venire” in Latin or “to come to”) is the season encompassing the four Sundays (and weekdays) leading up to the celebration of Christmas.
The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and to the anniversary of Our Lord’s birth on Christmas. From the earliest days of the Church, people have been fascinated by Jesus’ promise to come back. But the scripture readings during Advent tell us not to waste our time with predictions. Advent is not about speculation. Our Advent readings call us to be alert and ready, not weighted down and distracted by the cares of this world (Lk 21:34-36). Like Lent, the liturgical color for Advent is purple since both are seasons that prepare us for great feast days. Advent also includes an element of penance in the sense of preparing, quieting, and disciplining our hearts for the full joy of Christmas.
The Season of Advent is therefore a season of vigilant waiting, that prepares us to welcome the mystery of the Word Incarnate, who will give the ‘Light’ to the womb of the Virgin Mary, but essentially this time prepares us not only to welcome this great event but to incarnate it in our lives. The true light enters the world through the immaculate womb of the Blessed Virgin but it does not stay there. On the contrary, this light flows out into our dark, obscure, sinful lives to illuminate them, so that we can become the light that illuminates the world.
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You are welcome to watch our 10:00 am Sunday morning Mass on YouTube either live or later Sunday afternoon or evening.
The Lighting of our parish Christmas Tree at the corner of Dixie Canyon and Moorpark is the Monday after Thanksgiving, December 2nd at 6:30 pm.
The Men of Exodus 90 will lead us on a rosary procession on Saturday, December 7th, the vigil of the Immaculate Conception and Pearl Harbor Day. This rosary procession will begin after the 8:15 am Mass. We will proceed around the block saying these simple yet beautiful prayers of the rosary.
The second collection for Retirement Fund for Religious is December 7 – 8th.
The Bloodmobile of the American Red Cross will be here Sunday, December 8th from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Please make your reservation online to donate blood. Go to www.redcrossblood.org to make your donation appointment.
Monday, December 9th we will celebrate the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin. Masses on this (transferred from Sunday) holy day of obligation will be at 8:15 am and 12:05 noontime and 7:00 pm.
Our Lady of Guadalupe festivities will begin on Thursday, December 12th with mariachis at 7:15. About 8:00 will be a brief narrative of the four times Our Lady intercepted St. Juan Diego. Mass will be at 8:15 followed by refreshments in the church vestibule.
Our Advent Penance Service will be Monday, December 16th at St. Cyril of Jerusalem in Encino beginning at 7:00 pm
Our parish Simbang Gabi is Wednesday, December 18th at 7:00 pm
The Wagner Ensemble will offer us “A German Christmas” – your favorite German Christmas Carols – with choir and orchestra on Sunday, December 22nd at 4:00 pm
