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Advent 2014
In this season of Advent,
as we gather to wait
in the darkness of winter nights
for Jesus our Light to come,
may our hearts be filled
with your joy and promise.
—The Blessing Candles
Dear Parishioners and friends of Corpus Christi Parish,
In Advent and Christmas time the
Catholic Church calls us to celebrate the Incarnation: God becoming human in
Jesus Christ, becoming human with us and for us. It’s true that God’s divine,
eternal Son was born in Bethlehem once for all. But it is just as true that the
Incarnation, like the mystery of the Cross, continues throughout all time,
generation after generation. God is still becoming human by sharing his life
with us. St. Augustine said that God became human so that human beings could
become God, that is, daughters and sons of God, sharing in his divine life
through Jesus Christ.
For most Christians, “Advent,”
which means “coming,” remains a time to prepare for the joys of the wondrous
season of Christmas. During this season
we would encourage you to take advantage of the numerous opportunities to
worship with your parish family.
Our normal mass schedule is
Saturday Vigil 4:00p.m., Sunday Masses at 8:00a.m., and 11:00a.m. On Christmas
Eve we will celebrate Mass at 4:00p.m., 7:00p.m., and 10:00p.m. Christmas Day
Mass is at 10:00a.m. Please join us and ask your family and friends to come as
well. All are welcome in this place.
We wish you all a very blessed
Christmas. May the peace, joy and love of Jesus and his Blessed Mother be with
you always! You, and your family, will
be remembered in the intentions of our masses this Christmas season.
Peace
n’ all good---
Father
Jim
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Posted Dec 18, 2014, 9:37 AM by Corpus Christi Pastor
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Lenten Message
“Come
back to me with all your heart.”
Joel 2:12
My sisters and brothers in Christ,
Whether
you are new to our parish or have been a long-time member, please know that you
are welcome. Take a moment to search our
website to view the many ministries and events Corpus Christi Church
offers. Each week one of our ministries
is highlighted at the end of each Mass.
The coordinator will explain their ministry and invite those interested
in finding out more information to see them in the vestibule or in the parish
center for hospitality following Mass. Please take a moment explore the
possibility of placing your gifts into service for our parish and the wider community.
Also, why not reach out to a family member, friend, neighbor or someone you know
that has been away from the Church?
Invite them to attend one of our parish liturgies or other activities. Jesus invites all to “come and see” the good
work He has begun in the “Body of Christ.”
Once again we embark on our
Lenten journey toward Easter. Lent is a time of prayer and renewal and an opportunity to refocus our relationship
with God. We began our Lenten pilgrimage
on Ash Wednesday. As our brothers and
sisters have done for generations, we placed ashes on our heads as signs acknowledging
our sinfulness and our mortality. From
Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday, the Church keeps a time of penance – a time of
prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The US Bishop’s Conference is
offering a variety of resources to help Catholics observe Lent.
With the theme “Give Up, Take Up, Lift Up,” resources include a new
series of audio retreat podcasts in English and Spanish for the Sundays of
Lent, video reflections on Lenten themes, and a downloadable Lenten calendar
with quotes from Pope Francis’ Message for Lent. . . and other teachings
and suggestions for taking an active approach to the three traditional pillars
of Lenten observance: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The bishop’s website, found at (www.usccb.org/lent) also includes facts about
saints whose feast days or memorials fall within Lent, a reflection on fasting,
information on rediscovering the Sacrament of Penance, and a section on Holy
Week observances. Peace n' good, Father Jim
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Posted Mar 1, 2014, 3:30 PM by Corpus Christi Pastor
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Prepare the Way of the Lord
Use Advent wisely! Don’t let the secular “holiday season”
rob you of the true meaning and the true richness of our Christian faith and
culture.
There are times when we can become so busy with Christmas
preparations, that the meaning and real joy of the season can be lost to us.
There are times when our actions would indicate that we are lost, even to
ourselves. Regardless of our current circumstances, we are never lost to God.
While we may be blind to God's presence in our life, God is with us and, if we open
ourselves to him, he will show us a way back. Regardless of what may impede us,
let us diligently prepare the Way of the Lord.
Pope Francis reminds us of our
mandate to reach out to one another and to the stranger, especially the poor
among us. During this season of “getting
ready”, let us reflect on our God who cares about each person. This is a season
of welcome and joy. Let us remember Advent for what it is meant to be: a period of spiritual preparation and
penance for the celebration of the birth of our Redeemer. May this Advent truly be a time of believing
in God's love for us.
In His peace-
Fr Jim
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Posted Dec 10, 2013, 3:10 PM by Corpus Christi Pastor
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