St. Joseph the Worker

Dear Parishioners of SJW:

One more week to go until the Christmas season!  Advent is passing by quickly this year, especially when the 4^th Sunday of Advent is only hours long.  Dec. 24^th in the morning is the celebration for the last Sunday of Advent, while the Mass later on that day at 4:30pm and 9:00 pm are for Christmas Eve.  Lots of Masses this year in a short period of time.  PLEASE NOTE:  You are obligated to come to Mass for the 4^th Sunday of Advent AND the celebration of Christmas. 

 This weekend is the 3^rd Sunday of Advent, our GAUDETE SUNDAY.  That word means REJOICING.  Why should we rejoice?  Because our Lord’s Coming at the end of time is ever closer.  We are those Advent people awaiting the Lord’s return at the end of time.  We call ourselves to prepare our hearts and souls for the 2^nd Coming.  Advent is a time to reflect on our lives; a time to pray in preparation; to deepen our awareness of the Lord in our daily lives.  And by doing so, we rejoice that we are ever closer to the promise of Jesus Christ to return to the earth in final judgment. 

Speaking of REJOICING, are we a parish that does just that?  How happy are we in our Catholic faith?  Do others see and feel the happiness, joy, elation from us of being disciples of Christ?

The world today needs people who reflect the hope and joy of the Advent season.  We need to share the promise that our Savior has given to us—that He would come again into our world to take us to heaven, our bodies uniting once again with our souls.

Let us, amidst all the hectic nature of the next week, call ourselves to be REJOICING people.  Let us challenge each other to be GAUDETE people.  We prepare so much for so many this time of year.  Let us not forget to prepare our very selves, so that when the Lord comes again, we may REJOICE that we have been those GAUDETE stewards of God’s manifold gifts.

Your GAUDETE Pastor, Father Joe