Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People
 
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
 
St. Paul’s “4th Journey” Initiative
We continue to give thanks as a parish for this 100th year celebration.  Our focus is three-fold: History, Spirituality, and Evangelization.  We are now emphasizing the evangelization, which is why we started our “4th Journey” to follow the example of St. Paul who reached out to the greater community and preached the Gospel. 
We are starting the second phase of the Journey this month.  Having made connections with most of the people who come to Mass here regularly, we will now move into the phone call portion.  If you did not meet with one of our volunteers yet, you will get a phone call.  It will be a very brief 2 minute conversation just to reach out and connect. Depending on how this phase goes, we will have a basis to structure phase 3.  I will keep you updated as we progress.  Thank you for being a St. Paul parishioner!
 
Ad Orientem
You may remember last year that we celebrated Masses of Advent Ad Orientem, meaning toward the East.  This requires the priest to turn, facing with the people towards the altar during the Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass.  This symbolic gesture is part of our tradition and an option that can be used in the current form of the Mass. While this gesture may not be as widespread or well known in recent experience or practice, we would like to use it only for Advent to help us enter more deeply into the reality of waiting for the Lord in Advent.  Last week we had a fruitful discussion during our faith formation time on Sunday morning.  Feel free to continue the conversation.  I am very open to discussing it with people individually as well.  Feel free to contact me at the rectory. In addition there are pamphlets available in the Narthex that explain it in more detail.
 
Immaculate Conception
Do not worry we have not forgotten about our Blessed Mother.  Normally December 8 is a Holy Day of Obligation which would be a Mass we are obliged to attend during the week.  This year, since December 8 falls on a Sunday, which is always an obligatory day, we are already at Mass.  However since we are in the season of Advent, this Sunday’s readings and Advent prayers take precedence liturgically.  So what happens in these situations is that liturgically, the Immaculate Conception Day is moved to Mon. December 9.  Since the feast moved, it is NOT obligatory. Of course all are encouraged to come to Mass always, but it would not be a sin to miss.
 
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Pfr.