We just learned today that the PAPAL NUNCIO ARCHBISHOP PIERRE will join us at the 7 pm Mass next SUNDAY DECEMBER 18. He will be the main celebrant and homilist. His homily will be both in English and Spanish. He will also join the Reception in the Father Martin Hall right after Mass. Everyone is invited. The Sunday 7 pm Mass is part of the nine consecutive 7 pm Masses before Christmas. We had invited the Papal Nuncio to participate in CELEBRATING our 10th ANNUAL CHRISTMAS NOVENA MASSES. This is a great honor for all our parishioners that he has accepted to be with us. As papal nuncio with residence in Washington DC, he represents the Pope in the United States. He has done so since 2016. Before coming to Washington, he represented the Pope in several countries including Mexico, Uganda and Haiti. He speaks Spanish fluently. He has traveled extensively in many dioceses of the United States and Mexico (just prior to serving in the US).

I invite you today to meditate on the black and white picture below or the larger, colored picture inserted in this weekly bulletin:



Our Novena Committee had designed this picture for the cover of each Novena Mass program. They chose seven words: " FOR unto us a Son is GIVEN" as a central Novena message in line with our overall parish Advent theme "PARDON AND PEACE".

Did you notice that putting the first word FOR and the seventh one GIVEN together we get "FOR-GIVEN"? The origin of the English word "FOR-GIVE" is a literal translation of the Latin word "PER-DONARE" and French word "PAR-DONNER". This is also the root of the English word "PAR-DON"...This helps us to understand that to FOR-GIVE someone is to GIVE our love FOR that person, meaning that we are prepared to love someone who has hurt us, love in the Christian sense that we desire that GOD will give the offender the graces needed for change. Instead of vengeance we seek reconciliation. Instead of seeking “evil" for the offender, we seek "good". This is central to our being FOR-GIVEN in the Sacrament of Reconciliation: Our Father, for-give us our sins as we for-give others.

HAVE LOVE AND PEACE THIS CHRISTMAS THROUGH RECONCILIATION

BE RECONCILED WITH JESUS AND ONE ANOTHER

EVERYDAY IS CHRISTMAS IF JESUS IS IN OUR HEARTS. RECONCILATION!

GIFT JESUS WITH YOUR LOVE THIS CHRISTMAS, BE RECONCILED!

Since the beginning of Advent, we have been walking "FROM DARKNESS INTO LIGHT". This week we will light the third candle "JOY" of the Advent Wreath. This is GAUDETE SUNDAY: "REJOICE SUNDAY". CHRISTMAS is only two weeks away. Yes, we anticipate the JOY of the coming of Jesus at Christmas: GOD BECOMING MAN to save us. PARDON AND PEACE has been our parish Advent Theme. Our parish was joyful as so many of you came to our Advent Penance Service last Monday. We had a full church and all the 10 priests (two could not come at last minute) had long lines. If you could not make it, you still have time to go to Confession before Christmas.

Heavenly Father, grant all of us the GIFT of FOR-GIVENESS! Help us reconcile with one another. Help us open our hearts to the Love of Your Son as we prepare for His Coming, at Christmas and at every Eucharist! Help us to keep moving away FROM THE DARKNESS, our sinfulness, INTO THE LIGHT, our Reconciliation with Christ Your Son!

I invite all of you to join us and celebrate the JOY of Advent with the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Pierre this coming Fourth and last Sunday of Advent, 7 pm December 18: FOR unto us a Son is GIVEN!

One in Christ,

Fr. Alain