This weekend we begin the fourth week of the season of Advent as we continue to prepare, to await and to anticipate the coming of the Messiah in the person of the Christ Child. The role of Mary, the Mother of the Savior, at this time of the year is primary. Mary, more than any one, is the model of how to prepare for the coming of the Lord. The name and the person of Mary are rightly honored and admired throughout the world, by all cultures, by almost all religions and by all nations. The personal qualities of Mary as a woman of faith are immensely attractive and inspirational. There was an edition of the National Geographic magazine late last year with the lead article with the title, “Mary, the most powerful woman in the world.” This was a secular publication, not a religious or a Catholic one. Mary the Mother of Jesus is looked up to by millions and millions of people. During this coming week, may we take time to read the Gospel of Luke 1:26-56 and spend our prayer with her as she prepares to deliver her Child Jesus. During the coming days, may we pray the Hail Mary, perhaps do the Rosary as a family devotion, say the Memorare, the Hail Holy Queen and the Litany of the Blessed Mother. Listening to some of the Marian hymns would be so good for the heart and the soul. May Mary’s virtues of humility, simplicity, obedience and faith enable us to be better prepared personally to celebrate the Feast of Christmas. Jesus is the reason for the season. ‘Jesus est la raison pour la saison.’ May the joy, the grace, the hope of Mary the Mother of Jesus the Messiah fill our hearts during these coming days.
In the names of the Retired Religious Brothers and Sisters of our country, I say a big ‘thank you’ to all of you who supported the special collection last weekend. As a community of faith, you generously gave $3,189. So many of us and our families were blessed and influenced for the good by the vocations of Sisters and Brothers. Their service to the Church and their apostolic work was done with little compensation, except for their care and their upkeep. In the past the Nuns and Brothers had hardly any salary. The special collection is sent to the Bishop’s Office and he sends all that is collected in the Diocese of Lafayette to the national office that administers the Retirement Fund for Religious. As I have told you often, my priestly vocation was nourished, encouraged, strengthened and supported by the Marianites of Holy Cross, the Nuns who were my teachers in grammar school in Arnaudville. I am very grateful to the Nuns.
Again this year, The Giving Tree is a huge success, thanks to your caring and generous hearts. As your Pastor, I am well aware of how often you are asked to do for others, how often you are called to give to so many excellent causes and programs. And how faithful and how consistent you always are! Many of our Veterans, many of our older citizens who are in nursing homes and many children will be blessed this Christmas and they will know the joy of receiving gifts because of your willingness to share of your resource, your faith and your kindness. May the Lord fill your hearts with his presence, his grace and his healing.
Last Sunday, I saw an article in the local newspaper: ‘A great thought for this season – do good.’ As I compliment all of you for your compassionate, gracious and generous attitude, I ask that you be aware of how you may do more good for others, perhaps in your family, among your neighbors, in the Church and in the community. So often a good deed for someone takes only a few moments, the good deed may cost only a few dollars and a little bit of our time. But what a big difference our good deeds make for others! The true spirit of the holy season of Advent and Christmas is to let the love of Jesus fill us and our lives with his peace, his kindness, his concern and his healing among men. May each one of us be of good will to one another as we seek to reach out to our fellow man and share our faith in Jesus with them in our acts of service, kindness and generosity.
My best wishes, love, gratitude and prayers to you and to your loved ones for who you are, for all you do for the Lord and for the good of St. Elizabeth Seton Church Parish. May Psalm 24 guide us to stand before the Lord with sinless hands, with clean hearts and with sincere and humble attitudes.
SHALOM!
Fr. Gary
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