Blessed Sacrament Parish

Please Note:
As per the guidelines given by the State and by the Diocese, our CCD/Rel. Ed classes, Youth activities, Staff meeting and other parish events, except the Sacramental celebrations, will be suspended till Epiphany.


The Liturgy aid (readings, music) for our Live Streamed, Sunday Mass can be found under the   "Homilies/Articles" tab..   


Check out the attachments…
The bulletin, the liturgy aid for our Sunday live stream, a special parish project for our own people, and the Christmas calendar..

We are collecting socks for men, women and children to take to the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission.
And collecting personal care products which will be distributed to our Adult Care homes here in town.

Parents, check out the Youth Mass Missals in our gift corner….these are really neat, with the Mass prayers, readings of each Sunday and really neat explanations,… $10

We are having Advent Penances coming up…. At St. Margaret Church on December 6 at 3 p.m. and then here on December 13, at 3 p.m.   We want you to know that even though our 4 priests are usually spread out through the church, we will be taking even extra precaution… so don’t want you to stay away because of Covid concerns.

Mass schedule for next week:
Thursday, Nov. 27 – Thanksgiving-NO Mass
Saturday, Nov. 28 for special intention for Cliff Sage, req. by Bob/Kay Knitter
Sunday, Nov. 29 for Blessed Sacrament Parishioners
Wednesday, Dec. 2  for Tom Rochow, req. by Donna Rochow
Thursday, Dec. 3  No Mass today because of First Friday Devotions
Friday, Dec. 4 FIRST FRIDAY,  Adoration from 5-6 with Mass at 6 p.m. offered for Millie McCoy Young, req. by Pat/Roger Newbauer

Flower envelopes are available in the narthex for those who wish to contribute to the Christmas Memorials Flower Fund.  Due by Dec. 13

The Calendars for 2021 are here!  Pick up one…or two….

Have a great weekend,
Sheila




PRAYER DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
O clement, O loving, O sweet Mother Mary,  We, your children of every nation, turn to you in this pandemic. Our troubles are numerous; our fears are great. Grant that we might deposit them at your feet, Take refuge in your immaculate Heart,
And obtain peace, healing, rescue,  And timely help in all our needs. You are our Mother. Pray for us to your Son. Amen


 

Dear friends in Christ,
Today is the first Sunday of Advent.
Advent is a period of preparation extending over the four Sundays before Christmas. The word Advent comes from the Latin advenio, "to come to." The term coming includes three references: first of all, to our celebration of Christ's birth at Christmas; second, to the coming of Christ in our lives through grace and the Sacraments; and finally, to his second coming at the end of time. Our preparations, therefore, should have all three comings in mind.

Advent has been called a "little Lent," because it traditionally has included a period of increased prayer, fasting, and good works. All great feasts are preceded by a time of fasting, which makes the feast itself more joyful. Unfortunately, Advent today has supplanted by "the Christmas shopping season," so that by the time Christmas Day comes, many people no longer enjoy the feast or even specially mark the next 12 days of the Christmas season, which lasts until Epiphany.

In the liturgy, the church stresses the penitential and preparatory nature of Advent. The Priest wears purple vestments, and the Gloria is omitted during Mass. The only exception is on the Third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday, when priests can wear rose-colored vestments. This is to encourage us to continue our prayer and fasting, because we can see that Advent is more than halfway over.

The best-known of all Advent symbols is the Advent wreath. Consisting of four candles (three purple or blue and one pink) arranged in a circle with evergreen boughs (and often a fifth, white candle in the center), the Advent wreath corresponds to the four Sundays of Advent. The purple or blue candles represent the penitential nature of the season, while the pink candle calls to mind the respite of Gaudete Sunday. The white candle, when used, represents Christmas.

We can better enjoy the Christmas season if we revive Advent as a period of preparation. Attending the liturgical celebrations, making a good confession, abstaining from meat on Fridays or not eating at all between meals, preparing the Advent wreath in our families, praying the Christmas Novena, making the Jesse Tree, setting some time aside for special scripture readings for Advent, listening to advent songs, doing acts of charity are all different ways of celebrating Advent.

This year, because of Covid-19 and the general dispensation that the Bishop has extended until further notice, some of you may not be able to attend the solemn celebrations during Advent and Christmas seasons. So, may all of us, together with our young people, in whatever way possible, earnestly try to live this season as a privileged time of grace. I wish all of you the blessings of the Advent Season!

Fr. Simon