Dear Friends,

 

This weekend we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent, a real milestone each year. Offer the Lord the time and effort to prepare yourself for His coming at Christmas and at every moment of your life!

 

There are many ways you can enter the days leading up to Christmas. Our outreach to our unhoused brothers and sisters takes place on Wednesdays after the noon Mass. You can assist with set up, serving, and cleaning up. We also welcome folks to come and spend time with our guests, sharing our community life with them.

 

Our Giving Tree is in the church vestibule. Please consider taking one of the gift tags which describe a gift for a particular child. Gifts should be returned no later than December 15.

 

Our famous Choir School Christmas concerts take place on Sundays, December 8 and 15 at 3:00. Tickets are available on the Choir School and Parish website and after some Masses. Don’t miss this opportunity for a great holiday celebration and an important way to support the Choir School.

 

Our Parish Gift Shop is open daily from 9:30-4:30 and on Sundays from 9:00-1:00. Fr. Kelly’s handmade Christmas photo cards are available, as well as many unique Christmas gifts, many with specifically St. Paul Parish themes. It is hard to find good religious gifts, so this is the place!

 

Our Parish Grand Annual has become a financial lifeline for us. Our weekly offertory collection does not allow us to pay all the bills and expenses of our incredible parish. Each year at this time, we ask each individual or household to make an extra sacrificial offering of $450, payable in phases through March. Of course, not everyone can manage this, but we are confident that everyone can and will do something. Envelopes are also available in the vestibule. I am so grateful for your generous contribution, guided, as always, by prayer.

 

Please look ahead to the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a holy day transferred to Monday, December 9. Masses will be at 8:00am,12:10pm and 7:00pm.

 

Ee’n so, Lord Jesus, quickly come!

 

God bless, Fr. Kelly