Advent at Holy Rosary
My Holy Rosary family,
As we once again are drawn into the holy season of Advent, the words of St. John the Baptist should resound within us, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths.” Over the next four weeks we are invited to get ready, to prepare, to make a place for the Lord in our lives and in our hearts and to anticipate His coming. Advent is a time to get ready and to build up the hope within our hearts for the promised coming of Jesus Christ! We do this by repenting of our sins and emptying ourselves of all that keeps us from totally embracing Christ. I encourage each of us to take advantage of this Advent season to really dig deep into our hearts and souls. So as we seek Christ this season let us pay attention to devotions that have always helped us draw closer to Him. Gathering as a family to pray and light our Advent Wreaths, blessing our Christmas trees, praying the St. Andrew Christmas Novena, having a daily family devotional, the options are unlimited, please see our website for things your family can do together.
But once again, we need to remind ourselves that we don’t just prepare individually, we as a parish family also reflect in our communal worship a change from the “norm” to prepare ourselves more intently. During the Advent season, we fast from singing the Gloria as a reminder that we are waiting for Jesus to come. Each, Wednesday and Friday in addition to our normal adoration we will also be offering the Sacrament of Confession from 5:00pm to 6:00pm. Sunday evenings we will offer Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Confessions, and Solemn Vespers so that we can prepare ourselves more fully for the Christ’s coming among us. And finally, each weekend as we gather together for Mass during this holy season we will light the candles of our Advent wreath. As we do so, we tell the world, “The darkness will not last! For there is someone more powerful than all the evils affecting this world. Christ is ‘the Light that came into the world’ to dispel the darkness.” My brothers and sisters, I pray that you will have a blessed Advent!
Blessings in Christ!
Fr. Patrick Gallagher
Advent Confession Schedule
If you haven’t been to Confession for a while then do come this Advent and seek the Lord’s healing power of forgiveness and reconciliation.
2023 Advent Schedule:
Solemn Vespers and Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament offered on the first three Sundays during Advent (the fourth Sunday of Advent is Christmas Eve):
December 3rd, 10th, and 17th at 5:00pm in the Church.
Eucharistic Adoration
Every Wednesday and Friday 1:00pm – 6:00pm with Confessions from 5:00pm-6:00pm
Every Sunday from 2:00pm- Solemn Vespers with Confessions from 4:00pm – 5:00pm.
St. Andrew Christmas Novena
Beginning on St. Andrew the Apostle’s feast day, November 30th, the following beautiful prayer is traditionally recited fifteen times a day until Christmas. This is a very meditative prayer that helps us increase our awareness of the real focus of Christmas and helps us prepare ourselves spiritually for His coming.
Hail and blessed be the hour and moment In which the Son of God was born Of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires,
[here mention your request]
through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother.
Amen.
Blessing of an Advent Wreath
The use of the Advent Wreath is a traditional practice which has found its place in the Church as well as in the home. The blessing of an Advent Wreath takes place on the First Sunday of Advent or on the evening before the First Sunday of Advent.
When the blessing of the Advent Wreath is celebrated in the home, it is appropriate that it be blessed by a parent or another member of the family.
All make the sign of the cross as the leader says:
Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Response (R/.) Who made heaven and earth.
Then the Scripture, Isaiah 9: (lines 1-2 and 5-6) or Isaiah 63 (lines 16-17 & 19) or Isaiah 64 (lines 2-7) is read:
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
R/. Thanks be to God.
With hands joined, the leader says:
Lord our God,
we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ:
he is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples,
he is the wisdom that teaches and guides us,
he is the Savior of every nation.
Lord God,
let your blessing come upon us
as we light the candles of this wreath.
May the wreath and its light
be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring us salvation.
May he come quickly and not delay.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
The blessing may conclude with a verse from
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”:
O come, desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of humankind;
bid ev’ry sad division cease
and be thyself our Prince of peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.
Then follows the prayer which is said before the evening meal each night of the first week in Advent.
FIRST WEEK 
The following prayer should be repeated each day during the first week. After the prayer, the family’s youngest child lights the first purple candle. (Family members can also take turns lighting and blowing out the candles on each night.)
Leader: O Lord, stir up Thy might, we beg Thee, and come, That by Thy protection we may deserve to be rescued from the threatening dangers of our sins and saved by Thy deliverance. Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
The candle is allowed to burn during evening meals for the first week.
SECOND WEEK The prayer that follows is to be repeated each day of the second week. After the prayer, the oldest child lights the first and second purple candles.
Leader: O Lord, stir up our hearts that we may prepare for Thy only begotten Son, that through His coming we may be made worthy to serve Thee with pure minds. Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
The two candles are allowed to burn during the evening meals of the second week.
THIRD WEEK The joyful Sunday in Advent (known as “Gaudete”) is represented by rose (or pink) instead of the penitential purple color. Each night during the third week the mother of the family lights the pink, as well as the two previously burned purple candles, after the following prayer has been said.
Leader: O Lord, we beg Thee, incline Thy ear to our prayers and enlighten the darkness of our minds by the grace of Thy visitation. Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
The three candles are allowed to burn during the evening meals of the third week.
FOURTH WEEK The prayer that follows is to be repeated each day of the fourth week. After the prayer, the father lights all four candles.
Leader: O Lord, stir up Thy power, we pray Thee, and come; and with great might help us, that with the help of Thy Grace, Thy merciful forgiveness may hasten what our sins impede. Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
The four candles are allowed to burn during the evening meals of the fourth week.
Blessing of a Christmas Manger or Nativity Scene
In its present form the custom of displaying figures depicting the birth of Jesus Christ owes its origin to St. Francis of Assisi, who made the Christmas crèche or manger for Christmas Eve of 1223.
The blessing of the Christmas manger or nativity scene may take place on the Vigil
of Christmas or at another suitable time.
When the manger is set up in the home, it is appropriate that it be blessed by a
parent or another family member.
All make the sign of the cross as the leader says:
Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R/. Who made heaven and earth.
One of those present or the leader reads a text of sacred Scripture, for example, Luke 2:1 (lines 1-8) or Isaiah 7:10 (lines 10-15, the birth of Emmanuel).
Reader: The Gospel of the Lord.
R/. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
The leader prays with hands joined:
God of every nation and people,
from the very beginning of creation
you have made manifest your love:
when our need for a Savior was great
you sent your Son to be born of the Virgin Mary.
To our lives he brings joy and peace,
justice, mercy, and love.
Lord,
bless all who look upon this manger;
may it remind us of the humble birth of Jesus,
and raise our thoughts to him,
who is God-with-us and Savior of all,
and who lives and reigns forever and ever.
R/. Amen.
Blessing of a Christmas Tree
The use of the Christmas tree is relatively modern. Its origins are found in the medieval mystery plays that depicted the tree of paradise and the Christmas light or candle that symbolized Christ, the Light of the world. According to custom, the Christmas tree is set up just before Christmas and may remain in place until the Solemnity of Epiphany. The lights of the tree are illuminated after the prayer of blessing.
In the home the Christmas tree may be blessed by a parent or another family member, in connection with the evening meal on the Vigil of Christmas or at another suitable time on Christmas Day.
When all have gathered, a suitable song may be sung.
The leader makes the sign of the cross, and all reply “Amen.”
The leader may greet those present in the following words:
Let us glorify Christ our light, who brings salvation and peace into our midst, now and forever.
R/. Amen.
In the following or similar words, the leader prepares those present for the blessing:
My brothers and sisters, amidst signs and wonders Christ Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea: his birth brings joy to our hearts and enlightenment to our minds. With this tree, decorated and adorned, may we welcome Christ among us; may its lights guide us to the perfect light.
One of those present or the leader reads a text of sacred Scripture, for example, Titus 3:4 (lines 4-7) or Ezekiel 17:22 (lines 22-24 4; I will plant a tender shoot on the mountain heights of Israel.)
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
R/. Thanks be to God.
The intercessions are then said. The leader says:
Let us ask God to send his blessing upon us and upon this
sign of our faith in the Lord.
R/. Lord, give light to our hearts.
That this tree of lights may remind us of the tree of glory on
which Christ accomplished our salvation, let us pray to the
Lord. R/.
That the joy of Christmas may always be in our homes, let
us pray to the Lord. R/.
That the peace of Christ may dwell in our hearts and in the
world, let us pray to the Lord. R/.
After the intercessions the leader invites all present to say the
Lord’s Prayer.
The leader says the prayer with hands joined:
Lord our God,
we praise you for the light of creation:
the sun, the moon, and the stars of the night.
We praise you for the light of Israel:
the Law, the prophets, and the wisdom of the Scriptures.
We praise you for Jesus Christ, your Son:
he is Emmanuel, God-with-us, the Prince of Peace,
who fills us with the wonder of your love.
Lord God,
let your blessing come upon us
as we illumine this tree.
May the light and cheer it gives
be a sign of the joy that fills our hearts.
May all who delight in this tree
come to the knowledge and joy of salvation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
The lights of the tree are then illuminated.
The leader concludes the rite by signing himself or herself with the sign of the cross and saying:
May the God of glory fill our hearts with peace and joy, now
and forever.
R/. Amen.
The blessing concludes with a verse from “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”:
O come, thou dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night
and death’s dark shadow put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.
For an additional 10 Family Advent Traditions to Try This Year Click Here
Best Advent Ever!
Most people spend the time leading up to Christmas feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and stuck. Caught in the complexity and busyness of the holiday season, we end up striving for all the things that aren’t worth having. It’s no wonder the beauty, meaning, joy and life-changing power of Christmas has become lost!
This year, do something different. Reclaim the peace that can only come from simplicity this Christmas.
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Advent Solemn Vespers
Advent Solemn Vespers
Sunday: December 3rd, 10th, 17th
5:00pm
The Liturgy of the Hours also known as the “Divine Office” is, following the Mass, the most important prayer of the Church. Priests, deacons and religious are bound to pray it every day, but the Laity are also highly encouraged to unite their voices and intentions to those of the whole Church in this prayer. The Liturgy of the Hours is prayed continually by Catholics throughout the world. At any given time someone will be praying this beautiful prayer which purpose is to sanctify the day and the whole range of human activity. Morning Prayer (Lauds) and Evening Prayer (Vespers), the two main hours, are accorded the highest importance. Before the Second Vatican Council it was not unusual to see many parishes celebrating Sunday Vespers; and while, in our diocese, it has fallen out of normal parish life, the Vatican II document Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, is very intentional in calling us to pray with and for the Church in this way. In fact, it states: “Pastors of souls should see to it that the chief hours, especially Vespers, are celebrated in common in church on Sundays and the more solemn feasts…” (100) In following this call of the Church we will celebrate Solemn Vespers with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament during the Advent Season.
Holiday Food Baskets
The Holiday Food Baskets Ministry provides food baskets to the needy in the parish and community during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. Food is donated by parishioners and purchased from local grocery stores. People can help by providing non-perishable canned food, giving monetary donations for the ministry to purchase food, giving Kroger Gift Certificates, help fill the baskets, and help distribute the baskets to the needy families.
If you would like to volunteer to help fill baskets please contact the church office.
Healing Holy Hour Cancelled for November and December.
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