Happy New Liturgical Year/Advent!

Advent presents us with three parts: First, is the birth of Jesus Christ – the God with us (Emmanuel), His ministry, and life among us. The second part is the second coming of Jesus Christ (the Parousia), and the third part is about our daily encounter with God (namely, our response), the advent of now. Advent is a time that prepares us ascetically for the coming of Jesus in our lives, and embrace Him mystically, through the Holy Spirit. In other words, advent is a time of total purification and transformation of life for God. 

At the start of every advent, we are working with the Gospel and preparing ourselves to embrace the power and presence of God coming to dwell with us, in us, and through us, for our spiritual rescue, from what has enslaved us. Advent introduces us to that Power of the Gospel which is the “Kerygma” (Proclamation of the Gospel). Father John Riccardo, (founder of Acts XXIX), described Kerygma (the proclamation of the Gospel), as “the Power that changes life.”

The Gospel passage for the first week of advent, always present us with the concept of staying alert. In other words, to be awake at every moment of life. Once we begin to procrastinate, we lose the focus of being awake and alive. It is spiritual invitation for us to make good use of use of this moment.

St. Paul advised us not to lack in any spiritual gift as we wait for the revelation of Jesus Christ coming to us (I Cor. 1:7). In order words, give the Lord your heart this moment and not tomorrow. If you believe that prayer draws one closer to communion with God, and you are finding it difficult to spend time with Jesus in prayer, advent is calling you to open your heart for Jesus and not procrastinate, for the incarnation of Christ is rescuing you to share in the Divine life of Christ. The incarnation will break that yoke that keeps you away from the presence of Christ.  

If you believe that love unites us with Christ and with one another, advent calls you to open your heart for such transformation and embrace the spirit of the Incarnation of Christ in your life. The incarnation of Christ will rescue you from that old life that enslaved you. Form the habit of spending time with Jesus in prayer and throw your whole self to Him without reservation, especially your weaknesses and blind spots. The devil tempts where you are weak and not where you are strong.

If you believe that humility is the core nature of a true child of God seeking the face of Jesus Christ, open your heart for the action of the Incarnation of Jesus in your life, and experience the presence of the Holy Spirit and transformation. If you believe that forgiveness and reconciliation is the core virtue of a true Christian, and for you, it is always hard for you to forgive, the evil one is taking such advantage to keep you away from the meaning of the cross of Christ. Please, allow the Incarnation of Christ to shed Divine light in your heart, as you surrender to the Heart and Mind of Jesus Christ the Savior, to lead your life. The Incarnation of Christ will plant the seed of true love and forgiveness in you and use you to establish the Kingdom of Christ on earth. It is sin to undermine the power of Christ, by saying it is not possible, remember, that’s why Christ came. With Him all things are possible!

If you believe that patience brings understanding, advent season is challenging you to imitate the spirit of the Son of God who is always patience with us and never count so much on our iniquities but count more on how willing we are, to return to Him.  

Sometimes, it takes spiritual courage and humility to recognize darkness in in our lives. There is no Joy living in darkness. Advent reminds us about that time God humbled Himself to become like us, to rescue us. Advent, on the other hand, calls us to humble ourselves to recognize darkness in our lives and embrace the light from the Infant Savior Jesus Christ, of which the Incarnation of Christ invites us. The spirit of advent calls us to let the coming of Christ free us from all forms of darkness in our lives, and to embrace the joy, and light, of Jesus Christ the Savior.

Finally, the most precious light to shine from our hearts, is the light of love. Without the light of love, we are still in dark spiritually. Love lights up everything in human life because God is love. The true image of God shines out brightly from us when we love. We cannot be capable of integrating effectively, the love of Christ, if we are not open and clear enough, about why Jesus came, and the transforming way to respond to holiness. Advent invites us now to prepare for Incarnation of Jesus in our lives and world, by regaining confidence in the power of the Gospel of Christ. It is a call to embrace the Spirit of Jesus Christ in everything we do, without any reservation. Let us pray now, especially with St. Paul that asked us to throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light (Rom 13:15), so that the Holy Spirit will help us to be open to experience the Light of Christ coming with this advent, through our prayer, perseverance, faith, and trust, in the power of the Gospel, as we prepare for Christmas!

 

Information from the parish office

Liturgy Schedule December 3rd, 2022, through January 2, 2023

Friday December 3, 2022 – All Parish Adoration

Adoration starts 4:00pm

Mass 5:15pm

Saturday December 4, 2022 - Votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary 

Marian Mass to conclude adoration and burning petition – 9:00am

 

DIVINE OFFICE PRAYER

Tuesday, December 6, 2022, 9:00am, – Divine Office prayer will officially commence. It will be going on weekly; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, of the week, in the Church at Star of the Sea Brookings, followed by coffee etc.…

Coordinator of Divine Office ministry – Barbara Ken

 

Thursday, December 8. 2022 – Immaculate Conception Day for the Blessed Virgin Mary

First Mass – 9:00am – Star of the Sea Brookings

Second Mass – 12:10pm – St. Charles Borromeo Gold Beach

 

Monday, December 12, 2022, Our Lady of Guadalupe

Mass – 5:15pm – followed by reception in the parish hall, Star of the Sea Brookings

Advent confession

December 15, 2022 – Advent confession, 3:30pm – 4:20pm in Gold Beach, followed by Mass

December 16, 2022 – 11:00am 12:30pm in Brookings

December 17, 2022 – 3:30pm – 4:15pm in Brookings

NO CONFESSION STAURDAY DECEMBER 24, 2022

 

Sunday - December 18, 2022 – Opening and blessing of St. Mary’s gift shop, after Mass

Coordinator – Mary Dias

 

Christmas Eve Mass Schedule is as follows:

Brookings - December 24, 2022 – 4:00pm (English), 5:30pm (Bilingual) and 9:00pm (English)

 

Christmas Day Mass Schedule – Sunday:

Brookings - December 25, 2022 – 9:00am (English)

Gold Beach - December 25, 2022 - 11:30am (English)

 

Tuesday, December 27, 2022 – St. John the Apostle and Evangelist

Brookings – Mass at 11:00am

NO MASS DECEMBER 28 - DEC. 30^TH, 2022

 

Saturday December 31, 2022

Holy Hour/Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction for preparing for New Year – 5:15pm

Holy Mass – 6:00pm

Sunday - New Year January 1, 2023

Mass in Brookings – 9:00am

Mass in Gold Beach – 11:30am

Monday January 2, 2023 

Mass in Brookings – 9:00am

Mass in Gold Beach – 12:10am

NO MASS JANUARY 3-6, 2023

Please Note: Parish office will close December 24, 2022, and resume January 3, 2023, in observance of Christmas Season and New Year.

 

MINISTRY OF PRESENCE WORKSHOP – FEBRUARY 4, 2023

Saturday February 4, 2023, - “Ministry of Presence” special workshop, 10:00am through 12:00noon, in Brookings, Star of the Sea parish hall.  N/B: Please, all those registered for ministry of presence (Brookings and Gold Beach) are required to attend this special workshop. If you have not registered and you want to be part of this ministry, please, sign up.

Sunday February 5, 2022 – Commissioning Mass, and blessing, ministers of Christ’s presence, at 8:30 am Mass in Brookings and 11: 00am Mass in Gold Beach.