Dear Friends,
Just as we take the time to plan our work and leisure, why don’t we take the time to plan our spiritual lives. Isn’t that just as important? Faith and spiritual growth does not happen automatically. Without planning and preparation for our spiritual life, we risk the possibility of going year after year without growing in our insights or deepening our relationship with our God who loves us more than we can imagine.
Advent is not just an “early Christmas”. Advent is a season all to itself. Take advantage of Advent symbols, especially the Advent wreath as part of your family’s daily prayer. Did you know that candles in the windows of your home are not Christmas decorations? They are Advent decorations. A candle in the window is an ancient sign of hospitality. The early Christians developed the practice to welcome Christ into their homes.
In order to deepen your personal relationship with Jesus, I invite you to take advantage of our annual English (December 2 – 5, 2023) and Polish (December 17-20, 2023) Advent Retreats. All are invited on December 2 – 5, 2023 to listen to Fr. Demetrius Thomas O.S.B. preaching who will lead our Advent Retreat in English. Also, we invite all our Polish speaking parishioners and friends to listen to Fr. Edward Petelczyc CSsR who from December 17-20, 2023, will preach our Advent retreat in Polish. Build your personal relationship with God and people through faith, love, mercy, and forgiveness.
On Monday December 11th at 6:00PM we will have our Annual Appreciation Dinner at Sacred Heart Auditorium. With it, we wish to honor our various Ministry and Volunteers, their commitment to and support of Christ the Redeemer. Everyone is invited but must call or email the parish office to r.s.v.p. See you there!
In response to the requests of the participants of the Annual Parish Fall Dance, this year once again we are organizing the Parish New Year's Eve Party, which, as tradition dictates, will take place on Saturday, December 31 at the former Christ the King parish Center and recently known as Christ the King Catholic Center. Tickets for the New Year's Eve Party at the price of $ 120.00 per person and are available at the parish office, after each Mass and at “Halinka Polish Deli” in Hillsborough and “Polish Pickle Deli” on 10th Ave. in Manville. New Year's Eve party will take place in the BYOB formula and will be hosted by DJ Matestro.
With all of this in mind, and with hearts full of gratitude for what God is doing in our Parish, let us enter together into Season of Advent, and prepare the way of the Lord that will climax with Christmas celebrations. Let us pray for all that is good and worthy for our future and let us rejoice in what we have received from the generations of the past! Have a great Advent!
Yours in Christ the Redeemer,
Fr. Stan
