Dear Fellow Parishioners, We are gathering for the Fourth Full Week of Advent, and I am so glad it is a full week so that we can catch our breath and enjoy this season in which I have asked you to: remember, repent, and rehearse. I hope it is going well for you. But I remind you not to give up on yourself. Why? A few people mentioned that they tried to do the Matthew Challenge and read one chapter of Matthew a day during the 28 days of Advent. They fell behind and just gave up. Don’t give up on yourself. You don’t have to finish reading Matthew in 28 days, treat yourself with gentleness and kindness, but don’t give up on the Word of God. You can take 30 days or 40 days or more to read the Gospel of Matthew, just make the effort to read it. We will then unpack the meaning of his Gospel over the year ahead. The reason we showed the Busted Halo video the First Sunday of Advent was to remind us of what this season is all about. Remember Advent isn’t about: shopping, stressing, planning, or buying. Advent is about: remembering, repenting, rehearsing, expecting, waiting, hoping, and praying. The statement at the end of the video was an important one: If you are sick of Christmas by December 25th, you haven’t done Advent correctly! So, we have one full week before we gather to celebrate the Season of Christmas! Yes, it is a season, NOT a day. The Christmas Season ends January 9th with the Baptism of the Lord. That is 16 days to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ anew in the depths of our hearts. So, don’t give in to stress and anxiety and wishing the holidays were over. Take advantage of the last full week of Advent and give yourself the gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love which represent each of our Advent candles. Most important, give yourself the gift of forgiveness! We have our Advent Penance Service at 7:00 P.M. this Monday December 19th. This is the opportunity to go to Confession. I am asking you to reflect on the one thing that is preventing you from being in full friendship with God, others, yourself, and all of God’s creation. Through this Sacrament of Reconciliation, the healing power of Jesus Christ brings us the hope, peace, joy, and love we so badly desire in what we sometimes make a very stressful time.