Grace and Peace to You
The Coming of the Lord is near. Below are some ideas for Advent preparation and schedules for Liturgical Services. We encourage you to enter as fully as possible into the true spirit of this season.
Advent in 2 Minutes – from Busted Halo
What is Advent all about? How is Advent different than Christmas? Busted Halo explains the significance of this special season in the Church and why the experience of waiting, hope, and preparation is still so important in our lives today.
Visit Busted Halo’s Advent Calendar for daily Advent inspiration.
Advent Gift
Parishioners of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish: You are receiving a book this Advent entitled ”Holy Moments” by Matthew Kelly. This book is a gift from Leo & Sandy Bain and Frank and Michele Valone. It can be read during Advent as a reflection on our preparation for Christmas. It will be handed out this weekend. Please do not forget to take your copy. Pass it on if you wish after you are finished.
Daily Reflections
Register by clicking on the links below to receive these Daily Reflections in your email or Smartphone mail box.
Best Advent Ever from Dynamic Catholic – To sign up Click Here
Bishop Robert Barron Daily Gospel Reflection – To sign up Click Here
Advent Spiritual Resources
Daily Eucharist
Monday-Friday at 7:00 A.M. (Rosary and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at 6:35 AM.)
Each Thursday of Advent
Friends, for the Thursdays of Advent (December 1, 8, 15 & 22), Fr. Mark will be adding the following:
Confessions at 5:00 to 5:50 PM followed by a Mass in Spanish at 6:00 PM.
Immaculate Conception Holy Day
HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION
THIS THURDAY, DECEMBER 8TH
Friends, this coming Thursday is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. We will have Mass at our Church at the following times:
7: 00 AM – English Mass
1:40 PM – Mass with the NCCS School community
6:00 PM – Bilingual Mass
DÍA SANTO DE OBLIGACIÓN
ESTE JUEVES 8 DE DICIEMBRE
Amigos, este próximo jueves es la Fiesta de la Inmaculada Concepción. Tendremos Misa en nuestra Iglesia en los siguientes horarios:
7: 00 AM – Misa en inglés
1:40 PM – Misa con la comunidad escolar de NCCS
6:00 PM – Misa bilingüe
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Friends we will celebrate this Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in a very special way this year! Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Patroness of the Americas, the Protectress of the Unborn, and in a special way, she is the beloved Mother of Mexico!
Here at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, we will celebrate her feast day in the following ways:
Sunday, December 11th
- A procession with the statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe to begin the 11:30 Mass in Spanish.
- A grand luncheon and celebration following the 11:30 Mass in the School Gym. All are welcome and encouraged to come and bring a dish to pass. Sign-up sheets to attend will be available at this coming weekend Masses.
Monday, December 12th – the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in Church from 7:30 AM – 6:45 PM (We will need two individuals to cover each hour. Sign-up sheets to come …)
- Feast day Mass in Spanish at 7:00 PM
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Advent Day of Reconciliation
Advent Day of Reconciliation will be held in our Church on Tuesday, December 20 from 10:00 AM until 8:00 PM. This means there will be a priest available for confessions all day long during those 10 hours! This Day of Reconciliation is offered in the hopes of availing everyone the opportunity to go to confession before Christmas. Thus, during the season of Advent confessions will be offered on:
Thursdays from 5:00-5:50 pm
Saturday’s from 4:00-4:50 pm
Tuesday, Dec. 20 from 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
The best gift we can give the Lord at Christmas is the gift of a heart and soul that is ready to receive him. A good confession during Advent makes this possible.
RECONCILIATION IS RENEWAL
Dear Friends, Many blessings to you and your families this week! A great priest I know once said that the Sacrament of Confession, is, simply, “going to God the Father to talk to him about the work he’s given you to do.”
I like that explanation! God wants to meet us in a living encounter. A living encounter that is real and effective. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, or confession, God meets us once again, and by the simple confessing of our sins and the offering of a few prayers, he gives us the fullness of our lives back to us, new. He offers us the gift of freedom and restoration that he desired to give us from the cross. He does this because he cares for us and desires to lift the burdens that wear us down and weigh us down.
He has given each us a special work or mission in our lives. And not merely one thing, but many. To come to him and be made new empowers us to walk freely and live as children of the light and of the day. I’ve inserted into the bulletin this week and yellow pamphlet that helps one to prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The examination of conscience comes from Lifeteen International. I hope it is helpful.
Happy Advent! – Fr. Mark
LA RECONCILIACIÓN ES LA RENOVACION
Queridos Amigos, ¡Muchas bendiciones para ustedes y sus familias esta semana! Un gran sacerdote que conozco dijo una vez que el Sacramento de la Confesión es simplemente “ir a Dios el Padre para hablarle sobre el trabajo que te ha encomendado”.
Me gusta esa explicacion! Dios quiere encontrarnos en un encuentro vivo. Un encuentro vivo que es real y efectivo. En el Sacramento de la Reconciliación, o confesión, Dios nos encuentra una vez más, y con la simple confesión de nuestros pecados y el ofrecimiento de algunas oraciones, nos devuelve la plenitud de nuestra vida, nueva. Nos ofrece el don de la libertad y la restauración que quiso darnos desde la cruz. Lo hace porque se preocupa por nosotros y desea quitarnos las cargas que nos desgastan y agobian.
Él nos ha dado a cada uno de nosotros un trabajo o misión especial en nuestras vidas. Y no solo una cosa, sino muchas. Venir a él y ser renovados nos da poder para caminar libremente y vivir como hijos de la luz y del día. He insertado en el boletín de esta semana un folleto amarillo que nos ayuda a prepararnos para el Sacramento de la Reconciliación. El examen de conciencia proviene de Lifeteen International. Espero que sea útil. Feliz Adviento – P. Marcos
Sacrament of Reconciliation Pamphlet
Christmas Mass Schedule
Christmas Mass Schedule
Friends, our Masses for Christmas will be as follows:
Christmas Eve: 4:00 PM Mass
9:00 PM Bilingual Mass
Christmas Day: 9:00 AM Mass
With great joy we await the great celebration of Christmas!
Horario de Misas de Navidad
Amigos, nuestras Misas de Navidad serán las siguientes:
Nochebuena: Misa de 4:00 PM
Misa bilingüe de 9:00 PM
Día de Navidad: Misa de 9:00 AM
¡Con gran alegría esperamos la gran celebración de la Navidad!
St. Andrew Novena
Finally, we recommend to everyone to offer the St. Andrew Novena, which begins this Wednesday, November 30th and is offered until Christmas Eve.
What is the Saint Andrew Novena?
It is a devotion, also known as the Christmas Anticipation Prayer, that starts on the feast day of St Andrew the Apostle, November 30, and ends on Christmas Eve. It consists in reciting the prayer found below 15 times each day of the novena period. Its exact origin is unknown, but it is believed to have begun in Ireland during the 19th century. This is a very meditative prayer that brings about graces, increases our awareness of the real focus of Christmas and prepares us spiritually for His coming. You can include a special request or requests with the prayer!
NOVENA PRAYER
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 Savior Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother.
Recite the above prayer 15 times a day from November 30 to December 24.
Advent Retreat
Our friends at Holy Trinity Parish will be offering a three-night series of Advent reflections entitled, “Blessed, Broken, Given.” Each evening will be held on a Monday from 6:30 – 8:00 PM on the following dates:
- Monday, December 5 – “Blessed” with a talk by Fr. Bob Owczarczak, and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
- Monday, December 12 – “Broken” with a talk by Fr. Robert Contarin followed by Individual Confessions
- Monday, December 19 – “Given” with a Mass and Homily offered by Fr. Mark Noonan, followed by a fellowship gathering with hot chocolate and some good snacks!
Christmas Basket Information
Beginning Monday, November 21 through December 5, 2022, applications for Christmas Baskets will be accepted.
To apply for a Christmas basket, please contact the following telephone number only: 363-6080
El lunes 21 de Noviembre, 2022 por 5 de Diciembre, 2022, empezaremos a aceptar solicitudes para canastas de Navidad.
Para solicitar una canasta de Navidad favor de llamar a los siguientes telefonos solo: 363-6080.
Advent Crèche
The annual advent crèche will soon be placed in the sanctuary for those who want to make a thoughtful gift to a neighbor.
Week 1 – Nov 26-27-1st weekend of Advent: Christmas Basket Project: Hats, gloves, scarves, mittens.
Week 2 – Dec 3-4-2nd weekend of Advent: SEAS Food Pantry: canned food, stuffing mix, cranberry sauce, etc.
Week 3 – Dec 10-11-3rd weekend of Advent: St Gianna Molla Room: Baby toiletries, diapers, newborn to size 4, baby blankets, wipes, baby bottles, etc.
Week 4 – Dec 17-18-4th weekend of Advent: men’s/women’s/children’s socks.
Blue Star Mothers
We are accepting donations for the Blue Star Mothers: Food items for service members: beef jerky, protein bars, hand wipes/hand sanitizers, dried fruit, trail mixes, water enhancers, pop top lid cans of fruit, soups & meat & monetary donation checks to: Blue Star Mothers NY4, also signed Christmas cards (signed “Parishioners of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Dunkirk, NY). Drop off donations at the rectory office by Dec 1st.