Fr. Rick’s Pastoral Messages 12/11/22
Schedule Change: Monday is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas. Due to an unforeseen circumstance, Fr. Rick will not be here in the morning, so the Mass will be celebrated at 5:00 PM. No Communion Service in the morning. Our apologies for any disruptions.
Advent Ambiance – It’s Gaudete Sunday! Rejoice! Soon Santa will be here!! The Kingdom of God is even more at hand!! What a great time to join us at the Social Hour after Sunday Mass and enjoy some fabulous conversation, coffee, tea, fruit drinks and all sorts of heart-healthy pastry items. Browse our beautiful gift shop while humming with the soothing acoustic tunes of the Season. Pick up a locally handmade St. Christopher’s Christmas tree ornament. They are always a big hit with your most special friends and relatives outside Kane County. Pick up a couple while supplies last. All items are specially priced to fit YOUR budget. Got Guadalupe? Perhaps you’ll feel a little less guilty about blowing off the recent Holy Day of Obligation (Hint: December 8) by purchasing some cute little Guadalupe stocking stuffers. Introduce the Blessed Mother to your grandchildren. Hang an ornament on our Christmas tree in the social hall (Thumbs up). As you get caught up in the Spirit, you might even consider signing up to host our social hour in the coming weeks. It’s fun and deeply satisfying.
Join us for Liturgy of the Hours after the Tuesday Morning 8:00 AM Mass and after Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at 5:00 PM on Thursday. See our website for the ibreviary website or app. Also, hard copies of the Hours will be available. Being a Eucharistic people invites us into a deeper and more personal relationship with each other in the community and then sends us out to be this deep presence to the world. It’s the real presence of Christ. When we pray the Liturgy of the Hours we pray with and for the whole Church. At St. Christopher’s this action has a particular relevance as we welcome people from all over the country and the world. We then send them out and ultimately back where they came from. They are changed by being here and being together. We can even join the whole world in praying for them throughout the week. This is a real connection and world changing.
REPENT!: Remember that Fr. Rick is available almost any time for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. During Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Thursdays can be an especially good opportunity.
Memorial Bell Ringing throughout Utah: At 1:00pm on January 25th St. Christopher’s will join a memorial bell ringing that begins at the Utah State Capitol. The bells will memorialize the pre-born lives lost since the Utah Abortion Trigger Law was enjoined (approximately 2000 babies as of this event) after the overturning of Roe V. Wade. Pro-Life Utah is encouraging this ecumenical bell ringing throughout the state for any churches or cathedrals with bells to join in the bell ringing.
Diocesan Eucharistic Revival – July 9. Save the Date: Diocesan Mass and Gathering. Mountain America Expo Center, Sandy, UT
Gift Cards Available – We have several gift cards available for the holidays. If you know of people in genuine need of holiday assistance, contact Fr. Rick.
—————————————————–
Homily Reflection: Third Sunday in Advent – Gaudete Sunday, REJOICE!!!
“The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song.” Is. 35:1
“What did you go out to the desert to see?” Mt. 11:8
“Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another,
that you may not be judged.” Jas. 5:9
We’ve reached Gaudete Sunday and are assured that the King and His Kingdom are at hand. The parched landscapes of our souls and communities will flower and be fruitful. The forgotten will be fed and lifted. So why was this dramatic change necessary in the first place? How did we get parched? Whose fault was that?!! As we begin to see more clearly once again the reality of God among us, it might be tempting to focus on who was not paying attention to the ‘parching’ of the world? God has been here all along, right? We are challenged to do our own self-examination. What did we expect to see? What prophets might we have missed this past year? How do we expect to see Jesus anew when Christmas arrives? How willing are we to be stretched and enlightened this Christmas? What part of our former, parched, fruitless selves must we leave behind?