Fr. Joel McNeil's blog

St. William Parish has provided a guide on how to get the most out of this season of lent. Along with this is a list of special programs offered. Just click below to download the guide (PDF) and list of programs.

English

How to get the most out of this season of lent

Today I would like to have you think about St. Paul. Why?

Because that is what Pope Benedict is asking the entire church to do this year. Let me quote a news story:

We are familiar with the traditional Christmas Carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas”. One way to look at it is a brief catechism of Christianity. Next time you sing this song, consider this symbolism:

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On the 1^st day of the Feast, my true love gave to me…. A Great Big Clock.

Christmas remains a season of wonder and compassion.  Even now, it’s a season of extraordinary kindness and graciousness….of miracles.   It’s a season where we tell stories of reindeer who fly and snowmen that can dance.  We tell stories of Scrooges and Grinches that get brand new hearts due to the spirit and wonder of the season.

The season is this way all because 2000 yrs ago the greatest miracle of all took place in Bethlehem:    God became man and dwelt among us.
    

With the first week of Advent, we now begin a new liturgical year and a wonderful opportunity to grow in understanding and maturity as disciples!  In our scripture readings we ponder the Past …to be attentive to the Present… to be prepared for the Future.

The word Advent comes from the two Latin words, “ad” + “venire”, meaning “something or someone is coming….”

In this season we ponder threefold advent of our Lord: Past, Present, & Future.