From the Desk of Father Nathan

St Gabriel Catholic Church | Pompano Beach
God Bless You All

A Message from Father Nathan

My dearest people closest to my heart!
God bless you and your generous heart.

The Christmas Novena Begins December 16

We prepare our hearts and minds for the birth of Jesus.

Dear friends, as we know, we start the Novena from the sixteenth onwards.  The Christmas Novena, or the Christmas Anticipation Prayer, begins just before Advent. 

When:

Every day we will pray at 4:00 p.m.

Except on the 24th. We will pray right after the morning Mass.

The Christmas Novena is a nine-day prayer practice during Advent that helps us to contemplate and prepare for Christ’s birth. It focuses on the Incarnation’s Mystery and encourages deep spiritual preparation, fostering, contemplation, and community among believers as they anticipate Christmas.

The Christmas Novena is a powerful spiritual practice

Preparation to receive God’s transforming grace

The Christmas Novena is a powerful spiritual practice that invites us to prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Christ. During the Advent, this nine-day prior tradition holds deep significance for the faithful, serving as an incarnation at its core.

The Christmas Novena is an expression of our longing for God’s presence and our desire to make room for Christ Jesus the child in our lives. It provided a structured way to focus our thoughts and intentions about the true meaning of Christmas amidst the busyness of the season through our daily prayers and reflection we cultivate an attitude of expectant hope and joyful anticipation for the importance of this Christmas. It encourages us to slow down our lives for silence and contemplation and to open ourselves to God’s transforming grace.

Prepares our Hearts for the Coming of Emanuel – God with us

This season reminds us that Advent is not merely a time of extended preparations for season of interior renewal and conversion. The Christmas Novena will help us to foster a sense of community among believers whether individually or in groups. It validates us in your shared spiritual journey as we approach the celebration of Christ’s birth. This communal aspect reflects the universal nature of salvation and our interconnectedness as members of the Body of Christ. It invites us to reflect on the powerful implication of God becoming human and dwelling among us through this practice we prepared in our homes and in our hearts to receive the greatest gift of all the presence of Emmanuel God with us.

May we prepare our hearts and minds for the birth of Jesus.

With lots of love and blessings.

Ever wanting to be faithful to your service,

— Fr. Sahayanathan Nathan

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Past Messages from Father Nathan

From The Desk Of Father Nathan | September 29, 2024

From The Desk Of Father Nathan | September 29, 2024

On October 1, Catholics around the world honor the life of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, or St. Thérèse of Lisieux on her feast day. St. Thérèse was born January 2, 1873 in Alençon, France to pious parents, both of whom are scheduled to be canonized in October 2016. Her mother died when she was four, leaving her father and elder sisters to raise her.

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From The Desk Of Father Nathan | September 22, 2024

From The Desk Of Father Nathan | September 22, 2024

St. Vincent dePaul, (April 24, 1581 – September 27, 1660) was a French priest who dedicated his life to helping the poor and is considered one of the most important figures in history of charity. He was canonized by Pope Clement X in 1737 and declared the patron saint of all charitable works.

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From The Desk Of Father Nathan | September 1, 2024

From The Desk Of Father Nathan | September 1, 2024

VOTE NO- Florida Amendment 4, which will appear on Florida’s November 2024 ballot, is an extreme proposal that legalizes full-term abortion with no protections for the preborn child, including when the child is capable of feeling pain.

read more