​First Sunday of Advent

Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia,

This weekend we begin a new liturgical year with the Season of Advent.  With each passing day from now until Christmas, we will lose about 20 minutes more of daylight.  There is something about darkness.  We slow down, and in the case of reflecting upon the Season of Advent, we prepare.
 
The message we will be hearing throughout the season of Advent is exactly that.  Preparing – preparing our hearts, for our God is sending a Saviour, Emmanuel, which means God-with-us.
 
This preparing involves prayer and our active participation in the liturgy and sacraments of the Church, and our willingness to serve and to be of service to one another.  Advent draws us in and invites us to do all this, with the help of Holy Spirit, to meet our God, who comes to us in the form of a baby.
 
As we begin this Advent journey as a parish family, may we ponder the birth of our Saviour some 2000 years ago as we unite our prayers together to prepare for the coming of Christ into our hearts this Christmas. 
 
O come, O come, Emmanuel.

May God bless each of you and those that you love, and I look forward to seeing you at mass this weekend as we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent together.

Fr. Greg