Welcome to the Third Sunday of Advent as we light the pink candle, and wear the rose vestments, marking the joy of our nearness to Christmas! Many thanks for so many coming last Sunday for  confession when we had seven extra priests to help out (and we each heard confessions for over an hour). I am now scheduling the “last call for     Christmas confessions” for this coming Saturday December 22….I will be available from 2:30 to 4:00.

Just a heads-up reminder of our Christmas Mass Schedule: Christmas Eve:  3:00 p.m. and  5:30 p.m. Christmas Day:  9:30 a.m. There will be special   music provided a half hour before the Christmas Eve Masses and also special prelude music on Christmas morning.

Father Kevin Anderson of Christ The Light Parish in Princeton and Zimmerman has put out a Christmas CD of familiar carols: One in the Light Christmas. Proceeds are going towards their new church!  They are available at our office for $15.00 or three for $40.00.  Remember also to pick up some fresh  Guatemalan coffee…another great Christmas gift idea! We have many varieties, whole bean or ground, also decaf.

Finally, and I guess this part is much more about Advent healing than it is Christmas joy… Spiritual author Fr. Ron Rolheiser has provided a thought provoking article-essay entitled “On Carrying a   Scandal Biblically” regarding the clergy sexual abuse scandal.  Copies are available at the parish   office. On Saturday, January 12, we will have an   opportunity for people who have read this article to get together and  discuss it.  As we get closer to that date I will give you more details.   Blessings for the Third Advent Week.