From The Pastor: 12-16-2018

​This Third Sunday of Advent is called “Gaudete Sunday.” The term comes from the beginning of the antiphon used at the beginning of Mass: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near.” “Gaudete” means Rejoice!” In the midst of this Advent Season, we recognize that the Birthday of the Lord is only nine days away! The liturgical color of purple is lightened to the color rose. Sometimes I think that we need to “lighten up” in our lives! If we Christians are supposed to “rejoice,” to “be joyful,” then we need to have a sense of humor, give others the benefit of the doubt, and get rid of all negativity. Saint Teresa of Avila used to say, “Lord, deliver me from somber saints!” and G. K. Chesterton wrote, “The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly!” Let us be joyful saints who don’t take ourselves so seriously. Life is good and God is even better! Yes, there are sorrows and sufferings but the blessings of the Lord are too numerous to count!
 
Have a good rest of this Advent Season!

Answers To Your Questions:

“Father, the money that I give to the collection each Sunday and Holy day…is that used exclusively by the parish?”
 
The answer is “Yes.” The monies that are collected each week go to pay all of our bills (salaries and benefits for our employees, maintenance of parish properties, support of our 61 ministries and organizations, utilities, and all the temporal needs of our parish). We pay an  assessment to Bishop McDevitt High School and to help pay the salaries of our hospital chaplains. The only money that the diocese receives for its operations is from the Bishop’s Annual Lenten Appeal. That amount is an assessment from the diocese and if we have shortfall in meeting that assessment we make it up from parish savings. The money that you give really does stay in the parish!