November 30, 2025 - First Sunday of Advent

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving celebration with your family and friends and that you found many reasons to be grateful for. Today we enter a new liturgical year with the First Sunday of Advent—a season rich in promise, longing, and quiet renewal. While the world around us rushes toward Christmas, Advent gently invites us to slow down and breathe in the hope of God’s coming.

In this Year A cycle, our Gospel from Matthew calls us to “stay awake” and to be attentive to the presence of Christ already stirring in our midst. Advent is not merely a countdown to December 25; it is a sacred time to open our hearts to God’s continual arrival—in prayer, in the sacraments, in one another, and in the unexpected moments of our daily lives.

The prophet Isaiah, whom we will hear from throughout these early weeks, paints a vision of peace for all nations: swords beaten into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. This ancient promise still speaks powerfully to our world today. Advent challenges us to let Christ bring light into the shadowed places of our lives and to become instruments of His peace.

As we light the first candle on the Advent wreath—the candle of Hope—we are reminded that God is not distant. He is drawing near. He comes to strengthen what is weak, to heal what is wounded, and to awaken our hearts to the fullness of life He desires for us.

May this holy season help us cultivate watchfulness, deepen our longing for Christ, and renew our commitment to walk in the light of the Lord. Let us begin the journey of Advent with alert hearts and joyful expectation. As we see the giving tree lit, let us consider to lit a smile on the face of those who are in need, by offering a gift for them from the generosity of our hearts.

God bless everyone always!!!

Fr. Stan