One of the traditional Catholic ways of preparing for Christmas is to go to confession. Once again we will offer our Advent Reconciliation Weekend which will take place at St. Francis of Assisi church Friday, Dec. 20, 6 – 8pm and Saturday, Dec. 21, 9 am – 3 pm. The priests of our parish, as well as SFA and QAS, will be hearing confessions that weekend. The priest’s schedule is here. Celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a beautiful way to prepare for Christmas.
Advent is a perfect time to visit our Adoration Chapel. Spending a few quiet moments with the Blessed Sacrament in prayer is a wonderful way to prepare your heart to receive the special blessings of the Christ Child this Christmas.
Hopefully you’ve seen the Annual Stewardship Report that was mailed to all parishioners. The participation and generosity of our parishioners in our over 60 organizations and ministries is truly inspiring. Regretfully, the many activities of our SMMA Athletic Association were omitted. Here’s just a few of their gifts of time, talent and treasure:
• provide multiple scholarships yearly for graduating 8th grade students
• provide financial support for bibles for the 6th graders of our parish
• provide numerous volunteers to run the BBQ tent for our annual Parish Picnic.
Stewardship is a way of life is certainly a blessing for our parish.
This past Wednesday, December 4th, was the one year anniversary of the death of our parishioner and Business Manager, Joe Hearty. I will always be grateful for his many years of loving service here at our parish. Rest in peace, Joe! And special blessings for his wife, Carol, and the family.
Hopefully, you’ve seen our new sign. It certainly allows for greater visibility for all our parish organizations and ministries. My personal thanks to the following organizations who made a contribution to help with the purchase: Quilters – Athletic Association – Knights of Columbus – Scouts – Holy Name Society – W.I.N.
Speaking of generosity, I wanted to let you know of your kind donations during our Thanksgiving Day Masses: 780 food items to Feed My People – $914 to our St. Vincent de Paul Society
 Msgr. Norb Ernst – Pastor
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Help Us Keep You Informed!
This Sunday's Gospel has the phrase...."𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥
𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦." While that certainly encourages us to live stewardship as a way of life before our judgment day, I also call to mind the parable of the fig tree not bearing fruit. Remember how the owner of the orchard called the gardener over and said...."𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘦; 𝘤𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯." But the gardener said..."𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵, 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵; 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘪𝘵; 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵." God is like the gardener, always willing to give us another chance.
Happy Advent!
7 Ways to Prepare for the Christ Child This Advent
7 Ways to Prepare for the Christ Child This Advent
www.ncregister.com
Have a Blessed Advent, and enjoy this precious time to clean out the stables of our hearts."...it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 10:43-45
St. Ambrose of Milan (c. 340–397 A.D.) was born in Gaul (modern France) and became a successful lawyer and governor in Milan, Italy. When the bishop of Milan died in 374 A.D., a movement arose among the people to demand that Ambrose take his place. At the time Ambrose was only a catechumen preparing for baptism; he was not yet a Christian. He went into hiding in an attempt to escape the ecclesiastical appointment. His attempts to hide were unsuccessful; the emperor forbade anyone to gave him shelter, which forced him to give himself up and submit to the will of the people to be their bishop. Ambrose quickly received the sacraments, including Holy Orders, and was ordained the Bishop of Milan a week later. He became a very holy leader, giving his property to the poor and his land to the Church, and making himself directly available to the needs of all people. He also worked tirelessly to defend orthodox doctrine, especially against the pervasive Arian heresy which denied the divinity of Christ. St. Ambrose was the saint who introduced lectio divina, the practice of prayerfully meditating on the Sacred Scriptures, into the Latin Church. This informed his eloquent writing, preaching, and teaching, earning him the nickname "honey-tongued doctor." Ambrose was the bishop who converted and baptized St. Augustine of Hippo. He is one of the four original Doctors of the Church, and his statue is one of four that upholds the Chair of St. Peter inside St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. St. Ambrose's feast day is December 7th.
Fish Fry Today!
Fun - Food - Family
Join us this evening in the cafeteria. 4:00 - 6:30 pm
Remember children 12 and under eat for FREE from a limited menu.
Proceeds from this Fish Fry are split between the ProLife Group & Holy Name Society.
More info…
drive.google.com/open…Fish Fry Today!
Fun - Food - Family
Join us this evening in the cafeteria. 4:00 - 6:30 pm
Remember children 12 and under eat for FREE from a limited menu.
Proceeds from this Fish Fry are split between the ProLife Group & Holy Name Society.
More info...
drive.google.com/open...
We thank God for all the children baptized here at SMMA during the past month. We ask for God’s blessings on these families as they continue to grow in their faith.
Parker James Jackson, child of Peter & Jenna
Oliver Gerard Geen, child of Brian & Jennifer
Hudson JHack Frederick, child of Shane & Abigail
Delaney Grace McClary, child of Joseph & Jenna
Oliver Andrew Harper, child of Scott & Bonnie