Immaculate Conception
  • Welcome
    • Welcome
    • Parish History
    • Join Us
    • Becoming Catholic
    • Returning Catholics
  • Parish
    • Pastoral Letter Blog
    • Announcements
    • Upcoming Events
    • Events and Photo Gallery
    • Groups
    • Ministers' Schedule
    • Lectoring Procedures
    • Contact Us
    • Directions
  • Staff
  • Mass Times
  • Faith Formation
    • Religious Education >
      • Grades 1-8 Registration Form
      • Confirmation & Registration
      • RCIA for Children and Teens
      • Policies & Catechisms
    • For Youth
    • For Adults
  • Sacraments
    • What Do Catholics Believe? >
      • Catholic Essentials
      • Papacy & Christian unity
      • Scripture
      • Saints
      • Mary
      • Prayer
      • Liturgical Calendar
    • Baptism
    • Eucharist
    • Confirmation
    • Penance (Reconciliation) >
      • Confessions
    • Anointing of the Sick
    • Marriage
    • Holy Orders
  • Financial Report
  • Stewardship
    • Donations
    • Advent Giving
    • Lenten Giving
    • Lay Ministry
    • Online Giving
    • PayPal IC Restoration
    • Text 2 Give
  • Resources
    • Bulletin
    • Calendar
    • External Links
  • Funeral Planning

From Father Steven - November 28, 2021

11/24/2021

 
Dear Brothers & Sisters,
 
As we celebrate this first Sunday of Advent, it is important to be reminded of the importance of this time. Advent is not Christmas preparation, but rather the preparation for the coming of Christ.
 
The other day in a meeting of CCD Catechists, someone mentioned to me that once a student said that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Santa Claus. Well, that certainly made me think what do I personally celebrate at Christmas. Although the answer is cute, it also shows us that at times we can all be distracted by the world to think that Christmas is about house decorations and gift shopping. Instead, ADVENT IS TO PREPARE FOR THE ONE WHO IS TO COME! The word “Advent” in Latin means “the one who is coming”. The first part of Advent is focus on the Second Coming of Christ with “end of times” readings that at times can make us uncomfortable. They are only a reminder that Christ is coming, and we should be vigilant, or as the Gospel of this weekend will say, to be prepared so that does not “catch you by surprise like a trap.” The same way as we prepare our house to welcome guests on Christmas Eve (or Thanksgiving Day), so should we prepare our hearts to welcome Christ when he comes, by being “vigilant at all times and pray” (confession also helps a lot!!!). The second part of Advent, we are reminded of the first coming of Christ in Bethlehem. This time is also known as the novena for Christmas, since it starts nine days before Christmas. All of these things, brothers and sisters, are only a way to prepare ourselves to celebrate Christmas. Then when Christmas arrives, we will celebrate it for (just over) 12 days!!! Thus we have the song the 12 days of Christmas. Technically the liturgical season of Christmas begins with the vigil Masses on Christmas Eve and concludes on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. During this season, we celebrate the birth of Christ into our world and into our hearts and reflect on the gift of salvation that is born with him, including the fact that he was born to die for us.
 
God Bless,
Fr. Steven
 
Dear Brothers & Sisters,
 
It is with great joy that I call all of you to participate in the Feast of our parish and our Patroness, The Immaculate Conception on December 8th! For two years in a row we were not able to celebrate together our feast day due to the fire and covid, but this year we will get together at 7:00pm to celebrate our Trilingual mass with some refreshments afterwards. This year we will also have a THREE DAY PREPARATION (triduum) PRAYING WITH SPEAKERS WHO WILL REFLECT ON MARY’S JOURNEY WITH CHRIST, THE APOSTLES, AND US! Bishop Reed will be our special guest concluding our triduum on the last day. STARTING ON SUNDAY DEC 5TH, EACH DAY WE WILL GATHER IN THE CHURCH AT 6:00PM TO PRAY AS A COMMUNITY WHO WALKS WITH MARY. Feel free to invite friends and family to our celebrations, as all are welcome. Since Dec 8th is a day of obligation, we will also be offering masses at 7:30am, 12:10pm in English and 7:00pm Trilingual in the Upper Church.
 
God Bless,
Fr. Steven
 ​​
Picture

Comments are closed.

    Author

    Father Steven Clemence

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Contact Us

Immaculate Conception Office
9 Washington Court
Marlborough, MA 01752
office: 508-485-0016
email: Parish Office
Opening Hours:
Mon. - Fri.: 9:00am - 5:00pm
directions

Join Us for Mass

Daily Mass: 7:30 A.M.
Saturday Vigil: 4:00 P.M.
Sunday:
English: 7:30 A.M.; 11 A.M.; 5 P.M 
Spanish: 1:00 P.M 
Portuguese: 9:00 A.M
Picture

Directions


​Site powered by Our Sunday Visitor
Admin Login
  • Welcome
    • Welcome
    • Parish History
    • Join Us
    • Becoming Catholic
    • Returning Catholics
  • Parish
    • Pastoral Letter Blog
    • Announcements
    • Upcoming Events
    • Events and Photo Gallery
    • Groups
    • Ministers' Schedule
    • Lectoring Procedures
    • Contact Us
    • Directions
  • Staff
  • Mass Times
  • Faith Formation
    • Religious Education >
      • Grades 1-8 Registration Form
      • Confirmation & Registration
      • RCIA for Children and Teens
      • Policies & Catechisms
    • For Youth
    • For Adults
  • Sacraments
    • What Do Catholics Believe? >
      • Catholic Essentials
      • Papacy & Christian unity
      • Scripture
      • Saints
      • Mary
      • Prayer
      • Liturgical Calendar
    • Baptism
    • Eucharist
    • Confirmation
    • Penance (Reconciliation) >
      • Confessions
    • Anointing of the Sick
    • Marriage
    • Holy Orders
  • Financial Report
  • Stewardship
    • Donations
    • Advent Giving
    • Lenten Giving
    • Lay Ministry
    • Online Giving
    • PayPal IC Restoration
    • Text 2 Give
  • Resources
    • Bulletin
    • Calendar
    • External Links
  • Funeral Planning