Season of Advent

My Dear Parishioners,

I pray that everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving. I also hope that everyone has some new memories, good, warm, and funny memories, to be shared with future generations. This, of course, was my first Thanksgiving with you and will now become part of my own memories, good memories. Moreover, hopefully, this was just the first of many Thanksgivings together.

We are now in the Season of Advent and the beginning of a new Liturgical Year. The readings and themes of our Liturgies leading up to the end of the old Liturgical Year asked us to reflect on the “end:” the end of time and our own personal end. This was not to scare us, but to get us thinking and to help us always be ready for an end that could come without warning.

Oddly, the readings for this first week of Advent seem to continue this focus on the “end.” This is because there are two parts of Advent, and we are asked to reflect on two “comings” of Jesus.

Advent begins by asking us to continue to reflect Jesus’ Second Coming. Then Advent concludes by asking us to recall the beautiful gift that we received a little over 2,000 years ago, when Jesus was born for us at His first coming.

So, this weekend as we continue to reflect on the “end,” we hear Jesus say that “people will die of fright” because of the events to come. This is a rather scary thought, especially when we think of Advent as a preparation for Christmas.

Of course, when Jesus uses such strong language, it is to help us, not to hurt us. His strong language is actually a gift to us. He wants us to make use of all of the good gifts that He bestows on us so that we can be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Jesus gives us everything we need to be always in a state of Grace, so that we have no need to fear the future. This how much Jesus loves us.

Jesus wants us to confidently join with the Psalmist of this week and exclaim all the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees. The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him, and his covenant, for their instruction.

I would like to thank everyone who helps to coordinate our Giving Tree and everyone who has supported the Giving Tree in the Past and is able to do so again this year. Many families have a truly Merry Christmas because of our generous giving to our Giving Tree.

As we all prepare for this exciting time, let us do so together, in hope. Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever! St. Joseph, Patron of the Church, and our Patron, pray for us!

Fr. Michael J Pawelko, Pastor

An Advent Examination of Conscience

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart. I will delight and rejoice in you. (Ps 9:2-3)

• Am I loving and serving God with my heart, mind, and strength? Or have I become the slave of something else? What is that other thing? How can I change this situation?
• Have I given priority to God on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation by attending Mass and making a special effort to seek a stronger relationship with Christ and His Church?
• When at Mass have I actively participated in true worship of God? Do I pray, sing and pay attention?
• Do I appreciate the great gift of the Eucharist and the many other treasures of my Catholic faith? Do I prepare to receive Holy Communion worthily?
• Do I give Jesus Christ a say in the way I spend my time, money, and other resources? Am I using these gifts to build His kingdom? Have I supported my local parish and its ministries and work?
• Do I show respect for God’s holy name and for all that is Do I curse or swear? Have I spoken badly about God’s holy Church, its beliefs and priests?

Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. (Rom 12:12)

• Have I been faithful to prayer, meditation and Scripture reading, opening myself to God’s love and direction every day?
• Do I seek to grow in knowledge of Christian faith through study and prayerful meditation? Have I sought to form my conscience according to the teachings of the Gospel and the Church?
• Do I pray regularly for others, our beloved dead, the needs of the church and the world?
• Have I allowed myself to slide into sinful habits out of boredom, inattention, laziness, or frustration? Am I praying and working to break the power of these habits?
• What trials and difficulties are causing me the most pain right now? Am I keeping faith and trusting in God and his promises?

To practice justice is a joy for the just. (Prov 21:15)

• How am I working for the coming of Christ’s kingdom of justice and peace?

how to respond to the many challenges and issues of our modern society?

• Am I helping to build a world where human life is valued and respected through all stages of life? Have I defended the rights of the unborn, the old and the disabled in my speech, my actions or my participation in the democratic process?
• Have I stolen anything or cheated on my income taxes? Do I need to make restitution for such acts?
• How have I helped care for the poor, less fortunate, sick, and suffering? Have I readily shared with those in need from the many blessings that God has given me?

Complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart. (Phil 2:2)

• How am I doing in my relationships with the people God is calling me to love and serve; family members, friends, coworkers, neighbors, fellow parishioners? Am I treating them with respect and compassion?
• Have I encouraged, either actively or through my silence, another to sin? Am I living up to my Christian responsibility to help others whom I know are in sinful relationships or addicted to sinful habits?
• Are there ways in which my words, attitudes, or actions have caused disunity in my relationships? Have I gossiped and hurt the good name and reputations of others. Why do I do this? What restitution have I made in such circumstances?
• Have I always spoken the truth? Have I kept secrets and promises? Have I divulged the hidden sins of others?
• Am I harboring any anger, resentment, hatred or prejudice against someone? Is there anyone I need to forgive? Is there anyone whose forgiveness I need to ask?
• If I am married, how am I working at loving and supporting my spouse and building my marriage? As a parent, do I give good example and direction to my children in Christian living?

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you…?

Therefore, glorify God in your body. (1Cor 6:19-20)

• Do I treat my body with respect, or have I abused it through the willful misuse of drugs, alcohol, or food?
• Do I work too much that I neglect my family, my health and my responsibilities to the community?
• Am I following Christ’s teachings on sexual morality? Do I indulge in lustful thoughts and sexual fantasies? Have I committed sins of impurity? Have I looked at pictures, the internet, movies or magazines that lack respect for the human body and the gift of human sexuality?
• Have I opened myself to unhealthy media and societal influences that influence the way I think, the words I use, or the choices I make?