2021 Advent Newsletter

Adve2n0t21 SAINT LOUIS DE MONTFORT CATHOLIC CHURCH ADVENT NEWSLETTER A Time of Preparation the light of faith, God’s free to be a Light to Others gift, which enlightens the heart and clarifies the mind.” Many times, you hear from By Angela Exner charitable organizations during Christmas In This Issue: Advent is a favorite time of year for me as I because that seems to be when people are pause and look back on the year. I reflect on the most generous. Is it the grace of God • Catholics Living what I did well and what I did poorly. I moving our hearts? During Advent we Out Christ’s Gift of think of the many ways that I can grow and remember that God humbled himself to Himself During engage with God. During my conversion become a human being, set aside his glory, Advent experience, I heard Fr. Mike Scanlan say and walk amongst us. He humbled himself that we are called to be extraordinary. We by becoming an infant in the poorest of • The Angelus are the son’s and daughter’s of a King and families, born in the poorest of all that we can become is within our grasp. circumstances. Yet, he would become the • O Antiphons in God created each one of us to be light that shined in the darkness. Jesus no Advent extraordinary and gave us His son so that longer walks the earth, but He sent his Spirit we could have access to God’s grace and upon us to be a light to others. It is by • Fathers are Called love. Not a trickling stream, but a powerful allowing God to be a light in us, stretching to the Light waterfall of grace and help to become who us to grow and find the meaning and God created us to be. fullness of life through God’s Spirit being • Family Resources active and alive in us that we may become for Advent Another great figure in my life is St. John that light. Paul II. He was the Pope during most of my This advent, reflect on your year and what • 2021 SLDM life and throughout the early part of my you did well and where you may need to Advent Calendar conversion. At World Youth Day in grow. Ask God how you can become the Toronto, he said “You are the salt of the person He created you to be by meeting earth. You are the light of the world (Mt Him each day in prayer. When the Holy 5:13-14), It is our nature to seek the Spirit becomes alive in you, you can bring absolute, the meaning and fullness of life. that light to others. When you are willing to Do not be content with anything less than share that light and let God be active the highest ideals! You are right to be through you – extraordinary, miraculous disappointed with hollow entertainment and things happen. You become God’s hand and passing fads, and with aiming at too little in feet for others. Through prayer, allow God’s life. If you have an ardent desire for the light to build within you throughout Advent Lord, you will steer clear of the mediocrity so you can truly be God’s light to others at and conformism so widespread in our Christmas. society. You are a light of the world. The light which Jesus speaks of in the Gospel is

Catholics Living Out You’re Photo Here Christ’s Gift of Himself During Advent The Angelus By Scott Bernhardt By Father Thomas Haan This is the time of year we celebrate our Have you ever heard our church’s bell tower at the noon greatest gift from God, the birth of our savior hour? Three sets of three bells. These are commonly Jesus Christ. As we follow God’s example of known as the “Angelus Bells.” The Angelus prayer is a this miracle we find ourselves trying to Marian devotional prayer with origins in 11th Century duplicate his generosity by offering gifts to monasteries. It commemorates Mary’s “yes” to the those we love. angel Gabriel and the great mystery of the Incarnation, We make lose focus on the true reason for or God-mad-flesh in Jesus. It is traditionally prayed at Christmas but the Church always helps 6am, noon, and 6pm. The bells are played to remind us redirect us through the season of Advent. to stop and pray in the midst of our work. Advent prepares our family being together in a joyous and festive atmosphere to celebrate One of my family’s favorite paintings is The Angelus the birth of Christ. In focusing on the true gift by Jean-Francois Millet (see above). It depicts a man that God sent His only Son to save us from and woman pausing to pray during their potato harvest. sin we look to being Christ to others. Along Now that you know the name of the painting, you now with our Christmas family traditions we know why they stopped: they heard the Angelus bells! remember the gifts and talents God has (You can see the church steeple in the background.) given us. During Advent we take those gifts and generously become Christ’s hands and It is my hope that every parishioner at St. Louis de feet to others in need. Montfort would learn the Angelus prayer by heart. Our parish mission is: That’s why we will be praying the Angelus prior to every Mass during Advent. Love God Make Disciples Even if you don’t live near the church and can’t hear the Serve Christ in the World. bells to remind you to pray, you can set your Some of the ways we accomplish this is smartphone to “alert” you each day at noon. Our days through: should be peppered with prayer to God, and those of us • Prayer: Prayer prepares us to do God’s who are busy need regular reminders. Make it a goal to will. pray the Angelus at noon each day this week! • Formation: Throughout our lives, we seek to draw closer to God. Advent should be a particularly Marian character for • Service: God calls us to put love in each of us. Beyond celebrating her Immaculate action through concrete acts of service. Conception on December 8th, and her apparition to St. • Hospitality: Jesus teaches that when we Juan Diego at Guadalupe on December13, we join with welcome one another, we welcome Him. Mary in patiently awaiting the birth of her Son by a silent growth of Christ within us. May the Angelus lead As part of the mission we believe, to those us to ponder more deeply this mystery! who have been given much, much is expected. To those who have been given even more, even more is expected. God has so deeply enriched our lives with His grace; from that, we are inspired to share those graces by giving back. We ask that you and your family seek ways to be Christ’s hand and feet to others who have little and need our love and attention. https://sldmfishers.org/service

The O Antiphons in Advent O Antiphons are recited in Evening Prayer December 17th through the 23rd. The O Antiphons address Christ with scriptural titles: O Wisdom of our God Most High, O Leader of the House of Israel, O Root of Jesse’s stem, O Key of David, O Radiant Dawn, O King (or Desire) of all Nations, O Emmanuel. All through Advent, we will sing hymns based on the O Antiphons. “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” is a hymn we’ll be repeating often during Advent, as it contains all these titles of our coming Savior in the one hymn. Likewise, some other hymns with this theme will be heard often as well: “Maranatha, Lord Messiah”, “My Soul in Stillness Waits”. On December 21 join us for Vespers as we call out to O Radiant Dawn. Vespers will be held during Advent every Tuesday after the 6pm Mass. All are welcome! For more information on the O Antiphons, and praying with them from December 17- December 24, please click on the link attached. May these prayers and reflections enrich your prayer life as we await our Savior Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God Is with Us! https://wau.org/resources/article/re_praying_the_o_antiphons_of_advent/

Fathers are Called to the Light By Reid Leazier like a lighthouse on a sunny clear day. Anyone who has been lost at night or fears the dark, knows the powerful gift of light. Tony Dungy famously said, “there’s no substitute for a full- It is not the good times and the sunny days in which we cling time dad. Dads who are fully engaged with their kids to the direction of a lighthouse, rather it is when life becomes overwhelmingly tend to produce children who believe in difficult, and we are lost. This is when a heroic father steps themselves and live full lives.” The reality is that darkness and up. His constant witness, faithfulness, and loyalty will shine evil in our culture are real, and it is time for fathers to get off like a radiant light in the darkness, like a refuge for a beloved the couch and put on the armor for battle. We read in our son or daughter. The image of the father to the prodigal son Sacred Scripture various passages about the importance of the stands as a benchmark. Great Light in the Old and New Testament, referring to Christ the Messiah coming to redeem all of humanity. As fathers of We Catholic fathers will not be asked to lay ourselves upon a the family, we are called to be model disciples embodying the physical cross, but we will be called to die to ourselves. We Light of Christ. have a duty to step into the gap, to fight the evil and distractions seeping into our homes, and to sacrifice for the Men, husbands, and fathers are called to be like Christ. It is spiritual wellbeing of the souls entrusted to our care. Careers, our vocation, our greatest work, and our most crucial duty: to sports, money, prestige, hobbies, sloth, lust, and other vices lead our families to the Light of Christ. Fathers are called to can strip us of our ability, but they can never strip us of our be a lighthouse for their family and their sphere of influence. identity. As fathers we are the most important man in our Growing up in Indiana, my first experience with an actual children’s lives, and the family is watching us to see how we lighthouse was on Lake Michigan. We walked out to this react, how we talk, how we behave, how we pray, and how we skyscraper of a structure, surrounded by crashing waves and give ourselves away. The challenge is tall, but God’s grace massive boulders protruding from the choppy water. While I abounds. did not realize it at the time, this encounter with a lighthouse would surface throughout my life as a reminder of my role. Once more I turn back to our image of the lighthouse. We do not go it alone. Even the magnificent lighthouse has a keeper. A lighthouse is built on solid ground with a strong foundation. Every lighthouse breaks down, falls apart, and is subject to It towers from a high place as a marker through the wind, routine maintenance. Without Christ, we have no light to waves, and storms crashing around it. In John 1:5 we read shine. Fathers need time for authentic rest, to be renewed by “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Most Holy Eucharist, overcome it”. The lighthouse protects us from crashing into and to allow Christ in through daily prayer. A light house that the rocks and shallow water, while simultaneously becomes a neglects to shine its light is a danger to passing ships and has refuge pointing sailors, captains, and fishermen to safety. We become void of its primary function. May we never lose sight too are called to be a beacon of light, defending our families, of our duty to humbly rely on God’s grace and to be radiant pointing them towards truth, and becoming a refuge, an beacons of the Light of Christ for our families and our world. encounter, with the healing peace of Christ. Fathers may go unnoticed and ignored when times are good, 5 Practical Tips to become Fathers of Christ’s Light 1) Lean into the sacramental life of the Church (namely Reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist) 2) Pray the Rosary or spiritual devotion everyday (Advent Baskets have three options this year) 3) Put your wife and children above yourself 4) Call upon the Intercession of St. Joseph (Year of St. Joseph concludes on December 8) 5) Spend intentional time with your family (qualification in rank order) #1 no work and no phone distractions #2 do something your family loves doing, not something only you enjoy #3 opportunities that are fun and filled with laughter, activity, and conversations (watching tv hardly counts)

Family Resources for Advent By Kaitlyn Armiger Kings, and the Lord of ADVENT WEBSITES Lords. As a family this advent As we prepare to • Catholic All Year Advent Resources we wait. We prepare. We welcome Jesus with our • www.Formed.org, Advent videos for grow in anticipation and family, here are some excitement. We build excellent resources to kids and families each day toward the assist your family this • Catholic Icing Advent coming of Our Lord Jesus Advent season. We don’t • Someday Saints: Seeking Holiness in Christ. We prepare need to do everything, but ourselves not only for the we do want to find the Ordinary celebration of Jesus something to grow our Christ's birth, but for family closer to God and ADVENT CRAFTS Christ's second coming. closer together. We are about to receive a • Jesse Tree Ornaments DIY humble baby, the Prince • Jesse Tree Coloring Book of Peace, the King of • Straw for Baby Jesus, add a piece of I pray you have a beautiful Advent with straw each day of Advent to prepare new and old family traditions, peace, and for baby Jesus joy. Let's kneel before Him this Christmas You’re Photo Here as a family prepared and ready. “The true light that gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” John 1:9 BOOKS FOR ADVENT • O Come, Emmanuel, by Kendra Tierney • Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas, by Ann Voskamp • Grace Grows in the Trenches: 5 Minute Meditations for the Weary Catholic Mom, by Ginny Kochis • The Grumpy Old Ox, by Anthony DeStefano • The Vatican Christmas Cookbook, by David Geisser • The Catholic All Year Compendium, by Kendra Tierney PRAYERS FOR ADVENT • Christmas Novena, begins December 16th • Christmas Anticipation Prayer • Blessings and Prayers for Advent Wreath

Advent & Christmas 2021 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 28 29 30 123 4 1st Sunday of Advent 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 2nd Sunday of Sacred Heart of Solemnity of the Solemnity of the Holy Spirit–Geist Advent Jesus—Cicero Immaculate Immaculate Penance Service Penance Service Conception of the Conception of the 7pm 7pm Blessed Virgin Mary Blessed Virgin Mary Vigil Mass: 7pm A Holy Day of Obligation 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 25 3rd Sunday of St. Alphonsus, St. Elizabeth St. John Vianney, SLDM Advent Zionsville Seton Penance Fishers Penance Penance Service Feast Day of Our Penance Service Service Service Lady of 7pm 7pm 7pm 7pm No 5pm Guadalupe Reconciliation No 6pm Mass 19 20 21 22 23 24 4th Sunday of Our Lady of St. Maria Goretti Christmas Eve Christmas Day Advent Mt. Carmel Penance Service Mass Times: Mass Times: Penance Service 4pm (Church) 7pm 4:15pm (Gym) Midnight (Church) 7pm 6pm (Church) 9am (Church) 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 The Holy Mary, Mother of Mary, Mother of Family Sunday God Vigil: God 5pm Sunday Mass Times: obligation 9am | Noon remains MASS TIMES Weekday RECONCILIATION Weekend Monday-Saturday | 8:00am Tuesdays & Thursdays | Saturday (Vigil) | 5:00pm Tuesday & Thursday | 5-5:50pm Sunday | 7:30 am, 9:00am, 11:30am & 5:00pm 6:00pm Saturday | Following the Knights of Columbus will lead the rosary in the Friday | 8:00am and Noon 8am Mass Church 25 minutes before each weekend Mass. Or by appointment