I want to congratulate all of you on transitioning so well into the new Mass prayers. Everyone has shown great “spirit” in learning the new responses. The “new Mass prayers” are really the ancient Mass prayers, but in a new translation that restores their vibrancy and depth. The new translation is a thorough restoration of a great artwork, revealing colors and textures that had been obscured by decades of dirt and dust.
On December 17 we entered the Second Stage of Advent, our immediate preparation for the Solemnity of Christmas. Now is the time to put up your Christmas tree (if you haven’t already!). You will notice we wait until December 17 to put up our parish Christmas trees and wreathes. Unlike the shopping malls, where they put up Christmas decorations in early October, the Church exercises wise restraint in making only a novena of nine days (December 17-25) to prepare for the great feast. Yes, we think about Christmas for months before it arrives, but psychologically we cannot sustain more than about nine days of immediate preparation. Now is the time to really enter into the Christmas spirit. Hopefully we have not been worn out by
pre-Christmas commercialization and can summon up true Christmas joy in these last nine days of Advent. Jesus is waiting for us, not so much at Walmart or even at our Christmas parties, but most perfectly at the sacred altars of our churches.
Sacred Music expressed the heart of Advent and Christmas. The Parish Music Department has broadened our repertoire this year, incorporating polyphony, Baroque, Classical and Gregorian Chant throughout the Masses. We have seven choirs here at St. Joseph’s—seven choirs of angels and seven cantors. This Christmas they all will be singing to the glory of God. 127 voices in total sing in our Children’s Choir, Bells Choir, Spanish Choir, Chant Choir, Bell Canto Choir, Adult Choir and Youth Choir. Pick your choir and join your voices to theirs this Christmas!
On December 17 we entered the Second Stage of Advent, our immediate preparation for the Solemnity of Christmas. Now is the time to put up your Christmas tree (if you haven’t already!). You will notice we wait until December 17 to put up our parish Christmas trees and wreathes. Unlike the shopping malls, where they put up Christmas decorations in early October, the Church exercises wise restraint in making only a novena of nine days (December 17-25) to prepare for the great feast. Yes, we think about Christmas for months before it arrives, but psychologically we cannot sustain more than about nine days of immediate preparation. Now is the time to really enter into the Christmas spirit. Hopefully we have not been worn out by
pre-Christmas commercialization and can summon up true Christmas joy in these last nine days of Advent. Jesus is waiting for us, not so much at Walmart or even at our Christmas parties, but most perfectly at the sacred altars of our churches.
Sacred Music expressed the heart of Advent and Christmas. The Parish Music Department has broadened our repertoire this year, incorporating polyphony, Baroque, Classical and Gregorian Chant throughout the Masses. We have seven choirs here at St. Joseph’s—seven choirs of angels and seven cantors. This Christmas they all will be singing to the glory of God. 127 voices in total sing in our Children’s Choir, Bells Choir, Spanish Choir, Chant Choir, Bell Canto Choir, Adult Choir and Youth Choir. Pick your choir and join your voices to theirs this Christmas!
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