The First Sunday of Advent
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
Once again, we begin the Holy Season of Advent. In many ways, Advent is the lost liturgical season because it is so thoroughly overshadowed by the “holiday season” of our American culture. Whereas Advent is a time for quiet reflection, sober anticipation, and wonderfully relatable mysteries in the young life of Jesus and the Holy Family - the holiday season is a time for over-indulgence, saccharine music and movies, and a distinct emphasis upon our own family traditions. The only way in which Advent tends to break through is in the Sacred Liturgy at Sunday (and Saturday) Mass.
As the season of Advent unfolds, a purposeful atmosphere permeates all the Liturgies of the Church. Amidst the anticipation and hope, there’s the distinctive absence of the Gloria during Sunday Mass. This intentional silence holds a profound significance, inviting us to reflect on the mystery of the Incarnation and the spirit of penance that characterizes this sacred season.
The Gloria, a hymn of praise and adoration, is a central element of the Roman Catholic liturgy, traditionally sung during the Mass. However, during Advent, it is purposefully withheld. This omission is not a sign of neglect or oversight but a deliberate choice that carries deep theological and spiritual meaning. When the Gloria peeks out as it does on December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, its meaning and poignancy rings out.
Advent, which is derived from the Latin word meaning "coming," marks the beginning of the liturgical year. It is a season of joyful anticipation as we prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus at Christmas. However, this period is not only about looking back to the historical event of Christ's birth but also about anticipating His glorious Second Coming.
The omission of the Gloria during Advent is a liturgical expression of this dual focus. The Gloria resounds with exuberant praise, proclaiming the glory of God revealed in the Incarnation. Its absence during Advent creates a sense of yearning, underscoring the longing for the Savior's arrival. The Church, during this time, embraces a posture of waiting, cultivating a spirit of patient expectation.
But Advent isn’t just about some other time - past or future. Advent is also a penitential season, inviting us to engage in self-reflection and spiritual preparation. The liturgy during Advent directs attention to the themes of hope, repentance, and anticipation, setting the stage for the festive celebration of Christ's birth. Especially in the prophecy of Jeremiah — who watched his beloved Jerusalem and the Kingdom of Judah ignore God’s pleas, slide into sin, and finally be crushed by Babylon in 586 BC—we hear that heartbroken voice of a prophet who warned them until the very end. It’s a different kind of sober reflection than Lent. It’s bigger, somehow, and less personal but no less important a feeling for us as Christians to consider.
In these heavy thoughts and deep silences, the Church echoes the sentiments of John the Baptist, the herald of Christ, who proclaimed, "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths" (Matthew 3:3).
As the season progresses, the liturgy subtly shifts. In some places, even the shade of violet or purple vestments is changed from a darker purple to a bluer one. This is meant to be a nod to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to signal a shift in tone from “early Advent” to “late Advent” which begins on the 17th of December, after Rose Sunday.
The Advent silence is fully broken on Christmas Eve when the Church joyfully declares with the Angel, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will!" The resounding return of the Gloria marks the culmination of the Advent journey, celebrating the fulfillment of God's promise in the birth of Jesus Christ.
Even though our season is overshadowed by the far less beautiful and beneficial holiday season, both have good things to offer. The Holy Family is more important than our own family traditions, but our decorations and our shared meals and our gift-giving are powerful and good ways to show love and to think on the many blessings God has given us in our lives and in our families. But we have a few weeks of solid opportunity before then to give priority to spiritual life and to the Holy Season of Advent.
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Blanche and Prentiss Wilks
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHC(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/29 5:30p | - | L Bullard | M Ernst |
| 11/30 9:30a | Kathleen, Evelyn, Daniel | A Oliver | - |
| 12/6 5:30p | - | A Dawson | N Ernst |
| 12/7 9:30a | Mary Katherine, Maura, Elizabeth | B Sullivan | - |
Upcoming Events
Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass and Sunday from 9a until Mass
Sunday Morning Catechism in the Hall (with Coffee & Donuts) after the 9:00a Mass during the School Year unless otherwise indicated
Pastoral Council meeting monthly on the third Wednesday at 6p unless otherwise indicated
Dec 5 First Friday
Dec 6-7 First Sunday Benediction
Dec 8 Holy Day of Obligation - Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
Dec 14 Angel Tree gifts should be delivered to Church Hall
Dec 21 Birthday Party for Jesus following Sunday Mass in Church Hall
Dec 21 Adult Christmas Party
For Your Information:
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5 is FIRST FRIDAY. Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament will be offered following Mass at 5:30 p.m. Please make a special devotion to the Sacred Heart and attend first Friday.
BENEDICTION will be offered, as usual, at Weekend Masses on DECEMBER 6-7.
MONDAY, DEC 8 is a HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION celebrating the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary which is the national feast day of the United States of America. Masses will be offered at 9:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. FORMED.ORG has weekly features at https://watch.formed.org/this-week-on-formed. Remember to sign in using our parish’s zip code (71282) at https://signup.formed.org ROSARY GROUP meets on Monday at 5:30 p.m. to pray the Rosary. Everyone is invited to join in prayer. For more information, contact Louise Magoun (318-341-2403), coordinator. MAUSOLEUM Construction will begin in 2026. Our sales representative, Garth Daniels, can be reached at (318) 295-4409. If you have any questions or you know of anyone else interested in making a purchase, please encourage them to speak with Garth or to call the church office. ANGEL TREE 2025 - If you would like to participate in our Angel Tree Project and did not select an Angel for whom to provide a gift, you can make a monetary gift to be used for securing personal care items, a religious book, and food items for family food baskets. Those monetary gifts may be put in the collection basket, given to Father Ryan, or left at the church office. Our coordinators, Dana Hamilton and Dana Dukes, have indicated that they would like all gifts to be brought to the Church Hall by December 14. BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR JESUS… DECEMBER 21…will be held in the Church Hall on Sunday following Mass. Kendra Collins is giving leadership to the event; and, if you can assist her in any way, please contact Kendra, Father Ryan, or the Church Office. OUR CHRISTMAS PARTY (for adult parishioners and their guests) will be on Sunday, December 21 beginning around 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Thanks in advance to all those helping out!
Stewardship ”At an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come,” says today’s Gospel. Good stewards know that they are accountable to God for all they have and are and strive to live in readiness for his coming.
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2025-2026 | $ 2,500 |
| October Budget | $ 10,000 |
| October Collections | $ 12,517 |
| October Expenses | $ 11,629 |
| November Budget | $ 12,500 |
| November 23 Collection | $ 3,610 |
| Collections To Date | $ 16,966 |
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Sherry Lynn Harris (Nov 29), Frances Kennedy (Nov 29), Courtney Ernst Nadeau (Nov 29), Lance Marsh (Nov 30), Valerie Paz (Nov 30), Nick and Chris Hall (Dec 7)
Happy Anniversary to Dana and Randy Dukes (Dec 3)
In Our Daily Prayers…
Please let us know of anyone who is ill or hospitalized and would like to receive a visit from Father. Also, help us keep our prayer list up to date by advising us of those who should be added or removed. For our Pope, Leo XIV, our Bishop, Robert Marshall; and our Diocesan leaders, our President, Governor, Mayor and national, state and local elected representatives
Our parishioners who are sick, shut-in, under full-time care and for those who care for them, and for those otherwise in need of our prayers: MaryKathryn & Nap Book, Chris, Susan, and David Cagnolatti, Connie & Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan & Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret & Pat Gilfoil,Terry Farlow Hall, Sidney & Mary Jane Johnson, Frances & Bill Kennedy, Ed Mills, Susie Murphy, Bobby Reynolds, Mike & Sue Rome, Lori Sullivan
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Marie Farlow Bellard, Martha Book, Kay Boolos (S Gilfoil), Dick & Sue Boyd (S Gilfoil), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Gayle Brown (Dukes and Oliver), Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Fran Castile (Keene), Caroline and Albert Christman, Jeannie & Donald Collins, Teresa Carney Condra, Jami Cook (Wilks), Craig Cox, Gene Cox, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Fred and Cathy Fulton, Morgan and Alex Gilfoil, Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), LaVonne Givens, Charlotte Green, Rita Hargrave, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Patricia Lively (Wilks), Lonnie Hollowell (Naya), Charles Howington, Callie Halbach Hyams, Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson, Carla Leese (S Gilfoil), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Boyce Miller,Cole Norris, Randy Parker, Russell and Betty Petersen, David Peterson, Quintin Purvis, John Neill, Bailey, Scott, and Tiffney Rome, Sara and Jess Shields (Keene), Debbie Kedrick Sims, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Randy Watts, Jr.
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Preston Collins, Henry Ellerbee, Lilly Falgout, Jag Gilfoil, Matilda Johnson, Caroline Marsh, EmmyLu Marsh, Charlize Richardson, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Chandler Wood, Marsh Wood
