New Year

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EUCHARISTIC RENEWAL in the SEASON OF ADVENT

Celebrating the Church’s New Year
Homily for the First Sunday of Advent – Year A
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Matthew 24:37-44

Advent marks the beginning of the New Year, 2023 for the Catholic Church. Fr. Bill preaches on the Eucharistic Renewal and New Year’s resolutions that can help our celebration of the Eucharist become fuller, more vibrant and more substantial as we await Christ’s Return in Glory.

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BRINGING IN THE NEW YEAR – Advent 2022

Homily for the First Sunday of Advent (C) of the Liturgical Year, 2022

The First Sunday of Advent brings in the New Year for the Catholic Church. Fr. Bill discusses ways in which Catholics can observe annually this head start the Church has on the rest of the world in bringing in the year from the point of faith.

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AMERICAN “HOLY DAYS”

The Feast of the Ascension of Jesus (as well as the Epiphany) are now celebrated on Sundays rather than the original 40days after Easter and 12 Days after Christmas, respectively.

Fr. Bill talks about the purpose of Holy Days of Obligation, and why some of these days, more recently the Ascension, have been moved.  He also talks about what Holy Days should be kept, moved or suppressed as days of obligation, while also suggesting other days that can be promoted as days for the Mass that draw from both our values as Christians and our identity as Americans.

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THE MANY FACES OF ADVENT

Homily for for the First Sunday of Advent, 2020
(no that is not a typo)

Advent begins the new Year of Our Lord, opens with the theme of the Advent of Christ’s Return in Glory and concludes with the preparation to celebrate the Incarnation. How can we observe this busy, “holiday” season, as Catholic Christians, not diving into Christmas until we have celebrated the many facets and faces of the Advent Season?