"Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. 

We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day. 

We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us. 

We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom. 

We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence. 

We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light. 

To you we say, Come Lord Jesus!”  Amen. 

[Advent Prayer by Henri Nouwen]

May God Be Praised!

We are a little more than halfway through Advent, in the first week of Advent St. Luke emphasized Signs, in the second week he empathizes Repentance, next week [the 3^rd week of Advent] he will emphasize being Baptized by the Holy Spirit, and during the last week of Advent he will emphasize, Mary, Blessed among woman.

Choose one of St. Luke’s themes to guide you to Christmas morning and throughout the CHRISTMAS SEASON.

May God Be Praised!

I had the privilege of offering the Grace at the Annual McDevitt Christmas Party this past Sunday, God blessed me when I married Joanne McDevitt [my wife 48 years ago] a wonderful woman from a wonderful family. 

“Let us begin as we begin all things, In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

We pause for a moment aware of God’s presence among us.  Today we give thanks for the memories of Christmas Parties – gone-by: the laughter, the singing, the sharing, and the dinners, BUT most especially we remember those who have now joined You – Dear God – ‘in the land of the living’.  We give thanks to You for them: their spirit, their love, and their faith.

In Psalms we pray, ‘My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready. I will sing, I will sing your praise.  Awake, my soul, awake lyre and harp, I will awake the dawn.’

As we continue our Advent preparations – we renew our hearts and singing our songs to help us to see You, the dawn of our lives.  Bless the crosses You have given us to bear!  Bless the food we are about to eat.  Bless those who prepared it and those who will serve it.  Bless those family members who were unable to join us this afternoon.  Bless those who are new to our family this year and we thank you for each of them, Dear Lord.

We pray for the strength and the courage to help those with little or no food, those with little or no family and those with little or no faith.  May our lives reflect Your light and Your love to them and to all those who need it.

Together we pray, Bless us O Lord for these thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Your goodness through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

May the blessing of Almighty God be upon us today and every day, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Bon Appetite!

Grace Offered at the 2018 McDevitt Christmas Party [12/09/18]

May God Be Praised!

Make your Advent memorable practice the Seven Salesian Virtues to make the ordinary, extraordinary

            1. Endure Patiently

            2. See the Bright Side

            3. Show Good Humor

            4. Stay Cheerfully Excusing

            5. Put on a Good Face

            6. Be Appreciative

            7. Speak Gently and Show Courtesy

May God Be Praised!

In a Bleak Mid-Winter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0aL9rKJPr4

Take a few minutes to listen to this song with your heart, your mind & your soul.

Enjoy & God Bless you!

May God Be Praised!

 

Advent reminds us that there is meaning in the moment, there is meaning in our coming together.

“We encounter God only in the now.  In the Eucharist the past & the future are joined to the present moment.”  Rev. Barry Strong, OSFS

 May God Be Praised!

"To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek Him the greatest adventure; to find Him, the greatest human achievement."  St. Augustine of Hippo

Fall in love with God again & again.

May God Be Praised!