Author: Kris Coons

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception celebrates the sinless lifespan and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on December 8, nine months before the feast of the Nativity of Mary, celebrated on September 8. It is one of the most important Marian feasts in the liturgical calendar.

“The most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instant of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin.”

We should be eager to honor Mary in a special way as we Christmas approaches. 

Please note, our evening Mass for the Holy Day will be the day before on Thursday, December 7 at 6:30 p.m.  On Friday, December 8, we will have Mass at 9:30 a.m. and at noon.

Advent is the season of promise and peace. It is a time when we are called to seek the peace of forgiveness. Does this image speak peace to you? Or cause fear? Are you afraid to ask for forgiveness? Or are you so sure that sin is only between you and God? Or do you understand that the Father has chosen to act through His Son, and His Son’s body, the Church. Come for God’s peace that a human voice can offer. Come for the assurance of understanding and forgiveness that a human touch can reveal.  Our Advent Penance Service will be on Wednesday, December 20 after the 6:30 p.m. Mass. All are welcome and encouraged to come.—Fr. Pat

This year, the liturgical calendar presents us with a conundrum: What do we do when the Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve fall on the same day, and the Nativity of the Lord falls the very next day?

The Fourth Sunday of Advent is always the last Sunday before Christmas Day. So, many faithful may wonder which celebration they will encounter if they attend Mass on the evening of December 24: Fourth Sunday of Advent or Christmas Eve? Catholics are obliged to celebrate Mass for BOTH the 4th Sunday in Advent AND Christmas.

Fourth Sunday of Advent 

Obligation may be fulfilled from the Saturday, December 23 5 p.m. Mass, or the Sunday, December 24 9:30 a.m. Mass

Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)

Obligation may be fulfilled from the evening 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and Midnight Mass Sunday, December 24 or 

through the 9:30 a.m. Mass Monday, December 25.

My Dear Pax Christi Members,

I hope you have felt that the year that is coming to an end has been a positive, growth filled one; both for yourselves and for the parish. Here at Pax Christi we have seen many new parishioners join us, wonderful additions to our staff, we have seen new programs and new people willing to take on new service. I am so grateful to each of you. Traditionally, the end of the calendar year is also a time for me to make a special financial appeal, asking you to remember your parish for end of the year gifts. It’s a way to express our thanks. Of course, it’s also helpful for tax purposes. Some people choose to make a significant gift to the parish at this time.

This year we have a special situation since Christmas falls on Monday. Most years Christmas falls a few days after Sunday., I would like to remind everyone that it is important to attend a Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Advent and a separate Christmas Mass.  We will communicate the Mass schedule via the bulletin, Facebook page, email, and it will also be posted on our website, paxchristilex.org.  May I also gently encourage you to use both the Advent Sunday envelope and the Christmas envelope? I make my contribution once a month, usually at the beginning of the month. But I will certainly make use of the Christmas envelope to make an extra contribution.

We are having a successful year financially so far. You will find a financial report covering the first four months on the next page. As you see, we continue to meet our expenses, even though we started in July with a deficit budget. We have been a generous parish all year responding to the needs of those who have suffered from the natural disasters and family crises; with food drives, cold weather drives, blood drives, Rice Bowl, Annual Appeal, and many more. Your seasonal generosity allows us to enter the new year on a secure financial footing and to sustain the same spirit of renewal and growth in our care for each other and our love and service to our God.

Gratefully,

Fr P

Mass Dates and Times are listed here: *Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin MaryThursday, December 7– 6:30 p.m. & Friday, December 8—9:30 a.m. & Noon* *Parish Advent Mission: “Behold the Lamb,” Sunday, December 3—6:30 p.m.* *First Reconciliation Service—December 13— 7 p.m., following 6:30 p.m. Mass* *Parish Advent Penance Service—December 20—7 p.m., following 6:30 p.m. Mass* *Fourth Sunday of Advent Mass—Saturday, December 23—5 p.m. and  Sunday, December 24—9:30 a.m. (No 8:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. Mass)* *Christmas Eve Mass—Sunday, December 24—4 p.m., 7 p.m. and Midnight* *Christmas Day Mass—Monday, December 25—9:30 a.m. (no Noon Mass)* *Feast of the Holy Innocents—Thursday, December 28—6:30 a.m. & 9:30 a.m. Mass* *Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph—Saturday, December 30–5 p.m.* *Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Mass—Monday, January 1—Mass at Noon & 6:30 p.m.* *Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord—January 6-7—normal Mass schedule* *Fr. Pat’s Open House—January 7—1-7 p.m.* *Feast of the Baptism of the Lord—Monday, January 8—Mass at Noon & 6:30 p.m.*  Yes, you have to go to Mass twice this Christmas (Sunday and Monday); No two for one This year, the liturgical calendar presents us with a conundrum: What do we do when the Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve fall on the same day, and the Nativity of the Lord falls the very next day?   The Fourth Sunday of Advent is always the last Sunday before Christmas Day. So, many faithful may wonder which celebration they will encounter if they attend Mass on the evening of December 24: Fourth Sunday of Advent or Christmas Eve? Catholics are obliged to celebrate Mass for BOTH the 4th Sunday in Advent AND Christmas. Fourth Sunday of Advent    Obligation may be fulfilled from the Saturday, December 23 5 p.m. Mass, or the Sunday, December 24 9:30 a.m. Mass   Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)   Obligation may be fulfilled from the evening 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and Midnight Mass Sunday, December 24 or  through the 9:30 a.m. Mass Monday, December 25.

Men’s Bible Study meets on Thursdays at 7 p.m.in the Parish Hall, Room 6. We will be studying St. Luke’s Gospel.  All men of the parish are welcome!  Those interested may contact Deacon Ed for the study guide, or if you have questions about the study. 502-382-0145.  Please leave a message if no answer.

Our small reading group continues to tackle the challenges of this document. It can be discouraging reading, but it also urges us on to understand the current situation and look for solutions. 

Chapter 4 has the ambiguous title “Integral Ecology”. But what the chapter describes is that the various crises the planet and its people face are all inter-related.

“We are faced not with two separate crisis, one environmental and the other social, but rather with one complex crisis that is both social and environmental. Strategies for a solution demand integrated approach to combat poverty, restore dignity to the excluded, and at the same time, protect nature.” Para. 139

What we do to one another effects the environment; and what we do to nature effects people, especially the poor and powerless, in many different ways.

The pope proposes a simple but challenging question. “What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?” But if we take this question seriously, it leads to other questions. “What is the purpose of our life in this world? […] What is the goal of our work and all our efforts?” and finally, “What need does the earth have of us?” These are hard questions but they are worth our attention and reflection.

Finally, our group keeps going back to our concern for the young adults we each know, and for young people as a whole. We see and admire your ideals. We all sense that, given current trends, you might be despairing that anything can be done. We look for your energy and want to try to affirm you in hope for our shared future.

Reading Group Update

We would like to continue to share our insights from reading this papal letter. Chapter 3 is titled “The Human Roots of the Ecological Crisis”. “Ecology” refers to the way that environment, culture, societies and history are an “interconnected” whole.  As suggested by the title, the chapter recognizes the responsibility of all humanity for the situation with the world’s ecology –. The chapter’s language and lengthiness continued to present challenges to the reading. As noted below, we found the chapter to be rather sobering. Here are some key points:

· Humanity has entered a technology-dominant era which has reverberated through human lives across the globe.  Technology and its uses affect individuals, families, communities, and countries.

·  Science and technology have delivered positive applications and improved many areas of life.

· The possession of this knowledge and the desire to obtain and/or control needed resources to sustain and propagate technology leads to power and domination, especially over those with a limited capacity to have their voices heard and the effects of technology on their lives noted.

· The technological shift has led toward confrontation and away from cultural and/or community interpersonal engagement. 

· Advancement and its uses for gain are not in and of themselves accompanied by a recognition of responsibility for issues beyond self and profit. 

· The technological cannot be separate from the ethical and cultural. The dignity of all human life must remain part of the overall consideration of our human direction.

Our discussion also included points of promise in alternative technologies currently being developed and on the ability as individuals and communities to make choices in our actions.

“The earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the mostabandoned and maltreated of our poor.”

A small group has started reading and discussing the 2015 Encyclical of Pope Francis entitled Laudato Si’: On Care For Our Common Home in which he asks all people of the world to consider humanity’s impact on the Earth and all sentient beings. We have finished reading a few chapters and would like to share some of Pope Francis’ insights.

The first chapter was hard for us to read because it describes the many facets of the crisis we face.

The stability of our climate impacts every living species, particularly the poorest among us. “The climate is a common good, belonging to all and meant for all.” (p.20)

Water pollution and scarcity are daily realities for the poor. “Our world has a grave social debt towards the poor who lack access to drinking water, because they are denied the right to a life consistent with their inalienable dignity.” (p.25)

The deterioration of our quality of life is directly proportional to the deterioration of the environment. “We were not meant to be inundated by cement, asphalt, glass and metal, and deprived of physical contact with nature.” (p.32) Pollution, waste, and “throwaway culture” are destroying the natural world. “In many parts of the planet, the elderly lament that once beautiful landscapes are now covered with rubbish.”

Environmental degradation is widening the gap between the rich and the poor. “The impact of present imbalances is…seen in the premature death of many of the poor, in conflicts sparked by the shortage of resources, and in any number of other problems which are insufficiently represented on global agendas.” (p.34)

The response to the environmental crisis has been weak. “There are too many special interests, and economic interests easily end up trumping the common good and manipulating information so that their own plans will not be affected.” (p.39)

While the reality of the environmental crisis is grim, there is still hope. 

We meet on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. in the Church Office Conference Room.  You are invited to join us for this very important discussion.