A Message from Father Nathan
My dearest people who are all close to my heart!
Lots of love, blessings, and prayers to you all.
The Season of Advent
This week Marks the beginning of Advent — a time of spiritual preparation for the coming birth of Christ.
This week we will begin our Advent Season. This liturgical season of Advent marks the time of spiritual preparation by the faithful before the celebration of Christmas. Advent comes from the Latin word meaning “coming”. Jesus is coming!
Preparation For the Birth of Christ
Advent is intended to be a season of preparation for His arrival. While we typically regard Advent as a joyous season, it is also designed to be a period of preparation, much like Lent. Prayer, penance, and fasting are appropriate during this season.
What is Advent?
The celebration of Advent is evolved in the spiritual life of the Church. The historical origins of Advent are hard to determine with great precision. Advent is not as strict as Lent, and there are no rules for fasting, but it is meant to be a period of preparation. The purple color associated with Advent is also the color of penance. A good pious way to help us in our Advent preparation has been the use of the Advent wreath. The wreath is a circle with no beginning or end – so we call to mind how our lives are here and now, participate in the eternity of God’s plan of salvation, and how we hope to share eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven.
The wreath is made of fresh plant material because Christ came to give us new life through His passion, death, and resurrection. Three candles are purple, symbolizing penance, preparation, and sacrifice, the pink candle symbolizes the same but highlights the third Sunday of Advent: Gaudete Sunday. On this Sunday we rejoice because our preparation is now halfway finished. The light represents Christ, who entered this world to shatter the darkness of evil and show us the way of righteousness.
May you and your family have a meaningful and profound experience of Christ in this season.
God bless you all.
With lots of love and blessing.
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 | April 14, 2024
Instructions for the proper way to receive Holy Communion in the US Catholic Church.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | April 07, 2024
Happy Easter, it was wonderful to see so much participation in Holy Week. Special thanks to our volunteers who generously give their time.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | March 31, 2024
Jesus is risen. Rejoice. Easter Sunday serves as a profound reminder of the transformative power of faith and the enduring message of hope.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | March 24, 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 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.