From the Desk of Fr. Pascual Abaya IV

ADVENT SEASON

We are once again in the Season of Advent. A season set for us to start anew in our praise and worship. It is a time to reflect and prepare ourselves for Christmas when our Lord was born into this world. It is also a time to prepare ourselves for his second coming as we continue to express our faith, Christ has died, Christ is risen and Christ will come again. We prepare this event in the spirit of joyful expectation until we meet Christ when that day and time comes. We express it in the words, "Come, Lord Jesus!"

Let us remember that Advent is not Christmas. Even though we see Christmas decors around us and hear songs for the holidays, it is not yet Christmas. We oftentimes get too excited to think of Christmas but we can only feel and know the meaning of the celebration if we take the journey. We prepare for the celebration. In our liturgical celebrations, we listen to God's word. In our daily lives, we do good works. In that way, we have a better preparation of what we are expecting to celebrate.

We reflect deeply what would be the best gift that we can offer to the Lord on Christmas Day. It will eventually make us aware what we really need to do in this life with our families, our lives and work so that when Christ will come again, we are prepared to share his gift of everlasting life. We then cry out with gladness in our hearts, "Come, Lord Jesus Come".

DECEMBER PARISH ACTIVITIES

Reserve the dates to accommodate these schedules.

December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. It is a holy day of obligation. Masses will be celebrated at 6:30 A.M., 8:15 A.M. and 7:00 P.M.

December 9, Parish Advent Penance Service at 7:00 P.M.

December 16-24, the Misa de Gallo. Masses will be celebrated at 5:30 A.M.

December 24, Christmas Eve Masses at 5:30 P.M. and 8:00 P.M.

December 25, Christmas Masses at 12:00 A.M., 6:30 A.M., 8:30 A.M. and 11:00 A.M.