A Message from Father Nathan
My dearest people closest to my heart!
God bless you and your generous heart
Preparing for Advent
Make Ready For the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ
Advent is a period of special preparation in which many Christians make themselves ready for the coming, or birth of the Lord, Jesus Christ.
How to Celebrate Lent
Celebrating Advent typically involves a season of prayer, fasting, and repentance, combined with anticipation, hope, and joy. Many of us celebrate Advent not only by thanking God for Christ’s first coming to Earth as a baby, but also for his presence among us today through the Holy Spirit, and in preparation and anticipation of his final coming at the end of the age.
Understanding Advent
Let us try to understand and learn the meaning of Advent and this seasonal observance. The word Advent comes from the Latin term “adventus”, meaning arrival or coming, particularly the coming of something having great importance. Advent season, then, is both a time of joy-filled anticipatory celebration of the arrival of Jesus Christ and a preparatory period of repentance, mediation, and penance.
Advent Candles
The Advent candles and their colors are packed with rich meaning. Each represents a specific aspect of the spiritual preparations for Christmas. The three main colors are purple, pink, and white.
- Purple symbolizes repentance and royalty. You will witness our church and all the Catholic churches adorned with purple during Advent because it is the liturgical color of the season.
- Pink represents joy and rejoicing.
- White stands for purity and light.
Each candle of the Advent Wreath carries a specific name as well.
- The first (purple) candle is called the Prophecy Candle or Candle of Hope.
- The second (purple) candle is the Bethlehem Candle or the Candle of Preparation.
- The third (pink) candle is the Shepherd Candle or Candle of Joy.
- The fourth (purple) candle is called the Angel Candle or the Candle of Love.
- The last (white) candle is the Christ Candle.
Let us prepare ourselves worthily and inwardly for the coming of Christ.
Join the Daily Novenas | December 16 – Christmas
As usual, we will have daily novena liturgies at 4:00 p.m. from December 16th to Christmas.
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 | March 17, 2024
Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Tuesday, March 19th, we will celebrate the feast day of St. Joseph.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | March 10, 2024
Ministry Sundays March 9 & 10 + March 16 & 17 following each mass. St. Gabriel extends the invitation to get involved in parish activities.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | March 03, 2024
The First Fridays Devotion also called the Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is a Catholic devotion to offer reparations for sins, which had its origin in the apparitions of Christ at Paray-leMonial, France, reported by Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th century.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | February 25, 2024
The 40 days of Holy Lent began with Ash Wednesday and is a time of repentance and preparation but also a time of love and grace. Fast. Give.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | February 18, 2024
The 40 days of Lent began with Ash Wednesday and is a time for repentance and spiritual preparation. Pray. Fast. Give.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | February 11, 2024
This week we are also going into the holy season of Lent, our Christian season of spiritual preparation before Easter. During the six weeks of self-examination and reflection, Christian who observe Lent typically make a commitment…