Pastoral Messages from Fr. Rick 11/28/21
Adoration of the Blesses Sacrament Thursdays from 4:00 to 5:00 PM. Come to the silence and feel the LOVE.
Diocesan Advent Retreat: Saturday, December 4 from 9:00 to 11:00 AM. We will livestream the retreat in St. Christopher’s social hall if anyone is interested. The theme this year will center on Saint Joseph and the season of Advent and will be presented by Reverend Stephen Tilley, pastor of Saint John the Baptist Parish. Coffee and some heart-healthy treats will be provided. If you wish to livestream the retreat at home on your own computer please call the Office of Worship at the Pastoral Center at 801-328-8641, ext. 357 in order to register.
Attention Knights of Columbus: Roundtable Knights will be meeting in the Social Hall library this Sunday, November 28th following the Mass. Any men interested in learning what the Knight’s do for St. Christopher Parish, are invited to come to this meeting.
Offering Envelopes – Your personal offering envelopes are ready for pickup this weekend after Mass in the gathering space. Also, our 2022 Parish Calendars are available.
Sacrament of Reconciliation – Advent is a great time to get renewed and reconciled. As usual, Reconciliation is available almost anytime by appointment or perhaps consider going during Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Thursdays from 4:00 to 5:00 PM.
Advent Book Discussion and Meditation – I ordered 15 copies of The Domestic Monastery by Fr. Ronald Rolheiser to help us open up some ‘new space’ in our lives during Advent. The book consists of 10 short meditative chapters (lots of pictures) that can help us get more focused on our family, community and Kingdom building. The books are $15. The best day and time is yet to be determined. I will ask for suggestions after Mass.
Moving into the Darkness – The season of Advent comes along just as we are edging closer to the shortest (and hence darkest) day of the year. The liturgical season recognizes a natural and necessary time to withdraw a bit from the often too busy, noisy world and all the artificial lights. Human beings need this slower, quieter time to reflect and contemplate on the previous year. Sometimes this might involve re-entering some of less pleasant feelings that require more time and spiritual space to process. Advent is a good time to grieve, but also to honor some of the more subtle gifts and blessings we have received. To pray well and to be conscious of which rules from which king we are actually following takes a deliberate reflection and honesty. We must remember especially during this time to ‘pray from the heart’. See Catechism citation below.
CCC # 2562-63 According to Scripture, it is the heart that prays. If our heart is far from God, the words of prayer are in vain. The heart is the dwelling-place where I am, where I live; according to the Semitic or Biblical expression, the heart is the place “to which I withdraw.” The heart is our hidden center, beyond the grasp of our reason and of others; only the Spirit of God can fathom the human heart and know it fully. The heart is the place of decision, deeper than our psychic drives. It is the place of truth, where we choose life or death. It is the place of encounter, because as image of God we live in relation: it is the place of covenant.
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Wednesday, December 8 is a Holyday of Obligation this year. We will have Mass at the regular time of 8:00 AM.