Each of us grew up with a different way of counting down the days to Christmas. Some families listened to Christmas music by day and watched Christmas movies each night. Other families lit the purple and pink candles of an Advent Wreath week after week until it is almost Christmas. Some of us slowly opened one door at a time on a family advent calendar. Whatever your tradition, the waiting in anticipation of the celebration of Jesus’ birth was one of the great joys of childhood.
In our HNOJ family, we mark the days in waiting for Jesus to come by processing candles and incense in the dark and prayerfully placing them in our large Advent Wreath. We anxiously wait for Jesus to appear in our nativity scene in the corner of our sanctuary. As we sing quietly, wait for Jesus, and witness the lone candle shining in the darkness, we are reminded that no matter how dark things might see, the Light of the World is coming.
We welcome you to experience Advent and Christmas festivities at our parish and school throughout the month of December.
A note about incence
Incense will be used at the 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Christmas Eve Masses. There will be no incense at the 3 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass, nor the 9:30 a.m. Christmas Day.
Advent Parish Reconciliation
On Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. several priests will be at Holy Name of Jesus to administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In this sacrament you place your sins at the foot of the cross and Jesus in His mercy applies His loving mercy to wash away your sins, for you to begin anew. This sacrament is a beautiful way to experience God’s abundant mercy and to prepare your heart for Christ’s coming at Christmas.