Welcome to Blessed Sacrament Parish Allegan, in collaborative with
St. Margaret Parish of Otsego!

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h: (269) 673-4455       email: blsacch@frontier.com
Fr Simon's email: simanjoo@yahoo.com
website: blessedsacrament-allegan.org
office hours M-Thur: 10:00-3:00    closed Friday

Blessed Sacrament Confession Times
Saturday 3:00 p.m. Sunday 7:30 a.m.
Monday 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, 8:30a.m.

Parish news for this week of Dec 5

Please note the tab under "homilies and articles" for the complete Advent/Christmas schedule!

Our First Friday devotions take place on Friday, Dec. 3 with Eucharistic Adoration from 5-6 p.m. and Mass at 6 p.m.

This weekend…. Light the 2^nd candle…. 2^nd Sunday of Advent!   If you late getting started….we do have advent candle sets here!

Religious Ed class takes place this weekend (5) for PARENTS and all YOUTH after the 8:30 a.m. Mass.   After the regular class, there will be a short meeting for those students and their parents who will be preparing for Confirmation.

This week we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. This is a Holy Day of Obligation. Masses will be on Tuesday evening (7) at 4 p.m. and Wednesday morning (8) at 9 a.m. St. Margaret has Mass on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

On Sunday, the 12^th, we will have our Advent Reconciliation Service with confessors from 3- 5 p.m.    St. Margaret Penance Service is on December 19 from 3-5 p.m.

Also on the 12^th… there will be a wonderful presentation here on Our Lady of Guadalupe called “A Night of Hope.” This is a recorded Catholic conference offered by Franciscan University of Steubenville being viewed on that night across the nation!     Snacks served at 4:30, Rosary and then the presentation from 530-7:30 p.m.    An RSVP would be much appreciated.. sign up in the narthex or call the parish office.

The collection of items for the Veteran Home in Battle Creek will continue until Dec. 19. Tags on the tree in the narthex list most needed items.

There are also envelopes in the back of church and Trowbridge for the Annual Collection for Retired Priests and Religious. This will be collected through the month of December.

Especially during this season of Advent/Christmas, if you are homebound, or if you know someone who would like to be receiving Holy Communion by one of our ministers, please call the office.

Mass intentions for the Week ahead
FIRST FRIDAY December 3 6 p.m. for Bill Newton req. by Kay Newton
Saturday, Dec. 4 4 p.m. for George Diem Jr., req. by Jean Diem.
Sunday, Dec. 5, 8:30 a.m. for Blessed Sacrament parishioners
Monday, Dec. 6 NO MORNING MASS
Tuesday, Dec. 7 Holy DAY vigil at 4 p.m. for Jerry Hartman, req. by Busse family
Wednesday, Dec. 8 HOLY DAY at 9 a.m. for Blessed Sacrament Parishioners
Sanctuary Light is burning the week of Dec. 5-11 for Margaret Iciek, req. by family
Fr. Simon's message for week of Dec. 5

Dear friends in Christ,
Greetings of peace, hope and joy to each one of you.

One of the best ways of celebrating the season of Advent is by making a good confession. On 12th December, at Blessed Sacrament and on 19th December, at St. Margaret at least 4 priests will be available for confessions. Though all of us have made use of this Sacrament on several occasions, may I take this opportunity to reflect on how to make a good confession.

Going to confession is sometimes one of those things that many Catholics find themselves avoiding. But when we look at what confession really is and why Jesus gave this gift to his Church, we can see it as truly a beautiful Sacrament. Instead of avoiding confession, we will find ourselves desiring to go to confession as often as possible.

Through the sacrament of reconciliation, we are reconciled with God. We will find ourselves actually healed and strengthened by it. As humans, we are body and soul. Our bodies are physical but we are also spiritual. When our bodies are sick, we see a doctor for healing. When we are spiritually sick through sin, we see a priest for healing in the same way. Through confession, it is Jesus forgiving our sins through the priest. We are restored in the divine life.

Three things must take place for the sacrament of reconciliation. The person must be truly sorry for their sins, confess their sins and do penance. The key to a good confession is through a good preparation beforehand. The more we make a serious and honest examination of conscience, the better the confession will be.

The preparation should be done in a prayerful way. Find a quiet place so you can pray, reflect and focus. Then clear your mind of any thoughts that will divert your attention. Put away your phone, begin with some prayers. Pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance. Based on your age and vocation, find a suitable examination of conscience, using the ten commandments, the beatitudes, scripture readings, etc.

When you confess your sins, try to be concrete and not generic. For example, simply saying that you did not love God as you should, or you have not been a good Catholic, etc. is being too generic and does not help to grow in virtue. A good preparation helps us to confess all our mortal sins, to be very concrete, and it will also remove all anxiety because we have prepared well before going to confess.

Confession is not the place to seek counseling. It is the place to confess all the mortal sins you have committed since your last confession. When you confess, it is also good to tell the priest your state in life, whether you are single, married, consecrated person, etc. This will help the priest to help you better.

The penance is meant for making reparation for the sins and also will set us on the right path to grow as disciples of Jesus.

After a good confession, we experience a tremendous sense of freedom and peace which nobody else can give us. We are restored in our relationship with God, with others and with ourselves. To be released from the burden of sin and to be liberated from all the sense of guilt and shame is an absolutely beautiful feeling.

God bless you.
In Christ, Fr. Simon

Homilies/Articles