December 1, 2019

The Coming Is Coming!
       The Advent season begins this weekend!   Advent wreath frames, sets of candles, reading resources, calendars and more will be available in the back of the old side of church at Saint Alphonsus and in the Narthex of the church at Saint Alexis.  There are some great resources available to help you and your family enter more deeply into this brief,  but meaningful season of the liturgical year. 
     Say NO MORE to the chaos created by commercialism and the materialism that distract us from the real meaning of the season.  Reclaim the holiness of Christmas by first celebrating Advent! 
 
Make Your Advent More Meaningful!
     You can say that when you see Christmas decorations on display, it can only mean one thing, Halloween is coming!  Displaying Christmas merchandise in some stores even begins as early as in July!  Before the last of the turkey meat is carved off the bones, Christmas carols are being played on the radio, and on some stations, its non-stop through Christmas Day! 
     Sadly, this preemptive and distorted attitude toward Christmas and its true meaning is our fault!  We Christians have bought the lie and have sold ourselves and our children out to shallowness of materialism at the cost of God’s gift of a Savior and the real meaning of this holy time.   You see Christmas trees up and decorated in homes before Thanksgiving.  And just when the actual Christmas season begins, December 26, people take down all the decorations, pack them away, and toss the cut trees to the curb.  It’s crazy!  It’s up to us to as Christians to celebrate Advent and Christmas for what they are intended to be – holy and meaningful days of celebrating God’s love in our lives and our world.
     Advent, has a two-fold focus; we prepare for the celebration of the first coming of Christ into the world at Bethlehem, and to prepare for Christ’s second coming in glory!  Here are 10 suggestions of how you and your family can get more out of the beautiful season of Advent:
 
· Recognize Advent as a time of waiting.  In a culture that promotes instant gratification, appreciate the present moment and look to the future with peaceful anticipation.
 
· Allow your breathing to serve as a prayer.  Imagine that God’s love is flowing through every part of your being and exhale all that is not of God.
 
· Long for the Lord.  Repeat the prayer “Come Lord Jesus” throughout the day.
 
· Unite yourself to Mary.  Pray the Canticle of Mary (Luke 1:46-55) daily.
 
· Do something nice for someone every day.  This could be an encouraging word or even a phone call.
 
· Let go of grudges.
 
· Pray for patience.  Anxious or upset?  Ask the Lord for the gift of patience and practice being a more patient person.
 
· Offer-up something painful or difficult in your life.  Turn your trials into prayers!
 
· Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Allow Jesus to cleanse your soul in preparation for the Lord’s coming.
 
· Reflect on the special gifts and talents that God has given you.  Are you using those gifts in meaningful ways for the honor and glory of the Lord?
 
Prepare the Way! 
     Be sure to include the Sacrament of Reconciliation as part of your preparation to welcome Jesus.  The One whose birth we will celebrate and who’s final coming we await wants to give each of us the real gift – forgiveness from our sins and a renewed share in his grace!  Don’t miss out on this priceless gift!   Pass on this good news by inviting back to the Church a family member or friend who has drifted away from the practice of the Faith and reception of the sacraments.  They’ll be grateful to you throughout eternity!  Besides the usually scheduled times that confessions are scheduled in the Catholic Community of Wexford, the following services are offered for your convenience:
     · Wednesday, December 11-Leave the Light on For You!
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saint Alphonsus Church (ONLY)
This evening is intended for those who have been away from
the sacraments for a period of time and desire to “come home” to Christ.
     · Thursday, December 12 - 7:00 p.m. St. Alexis Church
Multiple priest confessors will available for you at this service.
     · Monday, December 16-7:00 p.m. St. Alphonsus Church
Again, multiple priest confessors will available for you at this service.
 
Love Radically.  Live Faithfully!
     The Jesus In Disguise Ministry that serves the homeless and needy in downtown Pittsburgh and surrounding communities is in dire need of blankets or sleeping bags and used luggage, smaller bags preferably with wheels (This may seem silly, but not when you have to carry all your possessions around with you day and night every day). If you have old blankets that are not being used, or if perhaps you are planning on replacing blankets in your home, or used and suitable luggage, please consider donating what you will not be using to this impactful ministry. 
     Donations may be dropped off in the back of the Church at Saint Alphonsus or in the Narthex of the church at Saint Alexis.  Thank you for your consideration, generosity and certainly your prayers for those who are on the streets.  May we come to recognize Jesus in all of sisters and brothers, particularly, those who are in greatest need.  God’s blessings...