Happy Advent! May this season, and our prayerful entering into the season be guided by the grace of God.
In Advent, as well as in every season of the year, we are called to grow in our relationship with God. Some growth is painful, some growth is joyful, some growth requires overcoming challenges, other happens in time, with the grace and love of God. May we all grow in our faith through the activities that will fill our Advent days.
A parishioner shared with me a meditation from October 28 that appeared in Magnificat. The theme of the meditation fits beautifully in the themes of this holy Advent season. The reflection was a prayer written by St. John Henry Newman - it prays:
"God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me to which He has not committed to another. I have my mission - I never may know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next....I have a part in a great work; I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good, I shall do His work; I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it, if I do but keep His commandments and serve Him in my calling.
Therefore I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. My sickness or perplexity, or sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end, which is quite beyond us. He does nothing in vain; He may prolong my life, He may shorten it; He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends, He may throw me among strangers, He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide the future from me - still He knows what He is about."
The holiday season are times of great cheer as well as times of loneliness and despair for people. People who struggle with mental illness may find the holidays a challenging time and a lonely time. May we be sensitive to those who strive to find light shining in the darkness of their lives during Advent and in winter. May our lives of faith help illumine and shine hope on parishioners, family members, loved ones sharing the joy of the season or carrying a heavy and burdened heart this Christmas season.
I am writing to let you know that the 2019 Parish Annual Report was mailed to all registered parishioners. This report describes the generous donations, bequests, and contributions over the past year that have funded activities and capital projects which would have been otherwise impossible. The 2019 Parish Annual Report is also available on the parish website. With generous hearts we choose our level of support to the parish, our level of support to our sharing parish, and other Archdiocesan collections.
Some parishioners choose to donate at the end of the year, rather than weekly or monthly. May all parishioners to our weekly offertory give generously and faithfully supporting the work of St. Mary's as we strive to share the good news of Jesus in making disciples, building community, and inspiring witness among believers of all ages in Lake Forest and beyond.
Save the date
- Cuneo Mansion - February 29, 2020 will soon be here. All are invited to the School of St. Mary Fundraising Gala - "Roar into the '20s"! More details will be available later this month.
In last week's bulletin, I shared with the parishioners my understanding that the east stairs project would have already been completed. The custom fabrication of the railings, as well as some related delays, have slowed down progress on the project. We are in ongoing conversations with the company as well as with the project manager from the Archdiocese that has been guiding us from the inception of the project. We have been told that they are doing all they can to complete the project as soon as possible for the Church of St. Mary. May God bless the work of these skilled and talented laborers and the project at St. Mary's.
Heartfelt thanks to those who participate in Giving Tuesday in support of the School of St. Mary.
God bless you with illumined and prayerful hearts this Advent,
