About Saint Maria Goretti Catholic Church
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Pastoral Message for Advent – Christmas 2017
As we prepare for this “Season of Miracles,” I draw your attention to the schedule of parish events and liturgies taking place throughout the month of December and into the New Year. Advent and Christmas is a time of gathering with family and friends, festivity, and delicious food! — but more importantly, it is a time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. We not only celebrate His coming to earth as an infant in a stable in Bethlehem, but we cherish His presence among us in the Holy Eucharist, in the love that we share for one another, and in His abiding presence in our hearts. I encourage you to take some time out from the hustle and bustle of the season, whether it be for Mass, reflection on the holy scriptures, or quiet prayer in our Adoration Chapel, and enjoy some of the spiritual benefits of Advent. We also have some wonderful social opportunities to enjoy time together as a “family of faith,” in particular, our Parish Picnic on Sunday, December 3rd. As we celebrate fifty years as a parish, we are filled with gratitude for the many gifts that God continues to shower upon this community. I look forward to what God has in store for us, as we prepare our hearts for the “greatest gift”: Jesus Christ. Wishing you a blessed Christmas and peace in the New Year!
Faithfully,
Rev. Thomas J. Hallsten, KHS
Parochial Administrator
