JUSTICE SHALL FLOURISH IN HIS TIME, AND FULLNESS OF PEACE FOR EVER.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
How are you today? I trust that you are blessed and highly favored. It is already the second week of Advent! Some of you must have started making purchases for Christmas celebrations. What a happy and busy season! As you prepare to celebrate with family and friends do not forget to keep the temple of God in a happy and tiptop order. You are that temple. We are not talking about taking a bodily shower or bath but a spiritual bath. Immersing yourself in the cleansing blood of Jesus. That means making sure to celebrate the birth of our Lord with a clean heart and clean conscience. That means getting out of your heart any unconfessed sins. Please be determined to not carry any burden on your consciences into the New Year 2023. Go into the New Year free and happy! Make use of the Christmas Confession times. John the Baptist, the precursor of the Lord has one liner for us, “The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15).
PLAN TO MAKE THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON YOUR BEST SO FAR.
Confessions: December 24, 2022 at 3:00 pm; December 25, 2022 at 7:30 am to 8:00 am, 9:30 am to 10:30 a.m.
Masses: December 24, 2022 at 4:00 pm vigil Mass, Midnight Mass; December 25, 2022 at 10:00 am..
CATHOLIC CHARITIES ANNUAL CAMPAIGN
As you know, this is the veritable arm of our Diocese through which we try to reach all our brothers and sisters in need. Please do not wait for the envelope this year. The safest way to contribute is through the website, CCWTN.ORG or by sending gifts to: P.O BOX 41955, MEMPHIS, TN 38174. Please give your best this year.
WHAT IS MORE?
“When the Lord commanded us to be vigilant, he meant vigilance in both parts of man: in the body, against the tendency to sleep; in the soul, against lethargy and timidity. (St Ephrem, Keep Watch, he is to come again, Diatessaron).
FOUR CANDLES OF ADVENT
The four represent four weeks of Advent. As you can see three are purple or violet and one is pink. Purple color signifies prayer, penance and sacrifice. Pink signifies joyful expectation. Our salvation is closer at hand. The first candle means hope and the expectation of the coming of the Messiah. The second candle symbolizes hope and it is called Bethlehem candle, calling to mind Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and the third candle also known as shepherd’s candle symbolizes joy. The fourth candle symbolizes peace and is called the Angels’ candle because it reminds us of the message of the Angels, “Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to men of goodwill.
QUIZ
Why do we make the sign of the cross? 2. How many Sacraments do we have? 3. Is doctrine important? 4. Is the Church necessary? 5. Why do we have holy water at the entrances of the Church? 6.What is one virtue you can cultivate during this Advent?
OUR MESSIAH - THE FULLNESS OF GOD'S SPIRIT
Have you ever wondered where the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are in the Bible? Here is one of the passages where you can find them.
On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD. (Isaiah 11:1-2). In Christ Jesus, we have the fullness of God’s spirit.
Love,
Fr. Francis Chiawa
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
How are you today? I trust that you are blessed and highly favored. It is already the second week of Advent! Some of you must have started making purchases for Christmas celebrations. What a happy and busy season! As you prepare to celebrate with family and friends do not forget to keep the temple of God in a happy and tiptop order. You are that temple. We are not talking about taking a bodily shower or bath but a spiritual bath. Immersing yourself in the cleansing blood of Jesus. That means making sure to celebrate the birth of our Lord with a clean heart and clean conscience. That means getting out of your heart any unconfessed sins. Please be determined to not carry any burden on your consciences into the New Year 2023. Go into the New Year free and happy! Make use of the Christmas Confession times. John the Baptist, the precursor of the Lord has one liner for us, “The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15).
PLAN TO MAKE THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON YOUR BEST SO FAR.
Confessions: December 24, 2022 at 3:00 pm; December 25, 2022 at 7:30 am to 8:00 am, 9:30 am to 10:30 a.m.
Masses: December 24, 2022 at 4:00 pm vigil Mass, Midnight Mass; December 25, 2022 at 10:00 am..
CATHOLIC CHARITIES ANNUAL CAMPAIGN
As you know, this is the veritable arm of our Diocese through which we try to reach all our brothers and sisters in need. Please do not wait for the envelope this year. The safest way to contribute is through the website, CCWTN.ORG or by sending gifts to: P.O BOX 41955, MEMPHIS, TN 38174. Please give your best this year.
WHAT IS MORE?
“When the Lord commanded us to be vigilant, he meant vigilance in both parts of man: in the body, against the tendency to sleep; in the soul, against lethargy and timidity. (St Ephrem, Keep Watch, he is to come again, Diatessaron).
FOUR CANDLES OF ADVENT
The four represent four weeks of Advent. As you can see three are purple or violet and one is pink. Purple color signifies prayer, penance and sacrifice. Pink signifies joyful expectation. Our salvation is closer at hand. The first candle means hope and the expectation of the coming of the Messiah. The second candle symbolizes hope and it is called Bethlehem candle, calling to mind Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and the third candle also known as shepherd’s candle symbolizes joy. The fourth candle symbolizes peace and is called the Angels’ candle because it reminds us of the message of the Angels, “Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to men of goodwill.
QUIZ
Why do we make the sign of the cross? 2. How many Sacraments do we have? 3. Is doctrine important? 4. Is the Church necessary? 5. Why do we have holy water at the entrances of the Church? 6.What is one virtue you can cultivate during this Advent?
OUR MESSIAH - THE FULLNESS OF GOD'S SPIRIT
Have you ever wondered where the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are in the Bible? Here is one of the passages where you can find them.
On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD. (Isaiah 11:1-2). In Christ Jesus, we have the fullness of God’s spirit.
Love,
Fr. Francis Chiawa
