The Catholic Church has different readings at the various Masses of Christmas: The Vigil Mass,the Mass at Night, and the morning Masses of Christmas Day, including the Mass at Dawn. These readingsproclaim the genealogy of Jesus; the shepherds making known the message of the angels; the Decree from CaesarAugustus; and, the Word Made Flesh, respectively.

As we prepare to celebrate the Nativity of the Lord this Christmas Day, for the second time during this ongoing Covid Pandemic, I ask that we expand our Christian Trust in the Lord and Hope in one another. Today we have in Connecticut the availability of effective vaccines to keep us safe. We give thanks to God for the gifts of His Heavenly Wisdom given to our researchers and medical professionals

About this time each year we see an increase in the Advent Giving Tree collection. It usually starts off slow, a few donations in this collection, a couple of more in the next collection. Then as the needs are known, the money/acts of kindness comes in. And I believe that this will again happen—not so much because of the collection tallies I have seen so far, but rather because of the goodness and generosity of the people of this parish that comes about year after year.

Advent Giving Tree …and in the living out of our Christian obligations to care for and be one with those in need, our Advent Giving Tree provides various opportunities to fulfill those obligations of faith. In supporting the Advent Giving Tree with whatever donation you may give—whether it is $5 or $500, the hungry will be fed, the poor will have heat and light, and the sick and those without insurance may be healed and cared for.

This third Sunday of the Advent Season is known as Gaudete Sunday; Gaudete is pronounced in three syllables: Gow-day-tay “rejoice” in Latin. During the season of Advent, we await the celebration of Christ’s birth and His coming again at the end of time. Over four weeks, we prepare our hearts for Christmas in penitential reflection. But in the middle of the season, Gaudete Sunday calls us to rejoice in hope!

The atrium and vestibule are adorned with our Advent Giving Trees bearing envelopes for our two charities for this year’s support. Once again, we are supporting the Knights of Malta Mobile House of Care, a Catholic organization that through mobile vans visiting neighborhoods in need will provide healthcare services to diagnose and treat all kinds of conditions and illnesses

In this second Sunday of Advent the theme of our readings comes from the understanding that this season is one of joy—in the anticipation of the Second Coming of Christ, which then turns—at the 16th of December—to the memorialization of the birth of the Savior of the world: Jesus of Nazareth.