From the desk of Monsignor Bride
we begin the beautiful season of Advent. We begin the Liturgical Year.  Advent restarts our commemoration of the life of Jesus Christ as that life and mission was promised, was actualized, and has been celebrated by the followers of Jesus since he left this earth on the day of his ascension. We begin Cycle C of our Sunday readings and Saint Luke is our evangelist.
Each year during Advent we recall the history of Christianity. The entire Old Testament is a history of that coming of the Lord into our history so that all of humanity might be saved.
As we look around us, we see the world as it is today. Our refrain must certainly be: “Never before in the history of the world have we needed Jesus Christ more than we need him today.” Every day we see the terrible violence and senseless death in Iraq.  We seem to  have lost the sacredness of human life in our time. The moral issues bring into debate the essence of family life. The economic issues facing our country and world teach us that we must be our brothers’ keepers.
The ancient Advent refrain has never been more relevant: “Come, Lord Jesus.”  Come into our world, come into our lives, come into our country, and come into our society. Heal us, strengthen us, hold us, and remove all this from our society and our world. This is our prayer.
ADVENT JESSE TREE
As we prepare for Christmas, let us do something for our needy brothers and sisters.  The Advent Jesse Tree is in the rear of the Church. Take a tag with its suggested gift on it.  return the gift to the Church and place it before the empty crèche as a sign of your gift to the Savior of the world. Reach out to others as we seek to help others – whom we do not know.  give to those who cannot GIVE TO us.
Do something special this Advent! How about abstaining from meat each Friday as a personal prayer for Peace in the world?     Do it!  You will not regret it.
I shall be away on Monday afternoon, Tuesday and Wednesday, attending the annual Presbyteral Convocation in Newport with Bishop Cote, Bishop Hart  and the priests of the Diocese. Please pray that this convocation will help our priests and our diocese.
There will not be Mass here on Tuesday or Wednesday because of this.  Pray for your Bishop. Pray for your Pastor, please! Pray for all the priests of the Diocese of Norwich. Pray that their numbers will increase.
Next weekend the Catholic Book Store will visit.  Plan to purchase some wonderful religious gifts for your loved ones and friends. A FREE BREAKFAST WILL BE SERVED AFTER THE 8:00 a.m. AND 10:30 Masses. Stop down after all the Masses on Saturday and Sunday. This is a wonderful opportunity since most parishioners do not have the opportunity to visit a religious article store  and thus the opportunity to secure these important articles.
The Christmas Musical is Sunday, December 17th at 2:00 P.M. in Church.  This is a wonderful opportunity to stop this hectic pace and pause to meditate on the meaning of Advent and the forthcoming Solemnity of Christmas. Join everyone for this.

                                               Monsignor Bride
 

This weekend (December 2 and 3) is the First Sunday of Advent. We will have a new set of Breaking Bread hymnals, new Missalettes, we will read from Cycle C which takes us into the Gospel of Saint Luke, and Year 1 for the first reading in weekday scripture readings.

ADULT  ED  WILL NOT
MEET ON MONDAY NIGHT
 Monsignor Bride is attending the Presbyteral Convocation in Newport, RI.

Blood Supplies are Critically low
PLEASE DONATE BLOOD THIS WINTER.  Each year, as the weather gets cold and often stormy, our state’s blood supply falls to dangerously low levels.  Please call 1-800-GIVE LIFE (800-448-3543) or visit bloodct.org, and make your appointment.

children’s CHOIR
The Children’s Christmas Choir for the Sunday afternoon, (2:00 P.M.) December 17th, Christmas Musical Program in Church will meet for 2 MORE practices after the 10:30 Mass on December 3rd, and December 10th. If you cannot attend these practices, please call Andrea Deedy at 444-6350.

                                     
                
Announced Masses

Monday, December 4th         1st Week of Advent
7:30 A.M. Isabel Rosa      (Friend)
Tuesday,  December 5th      1st Week of Advent
7:30 A.M.  No Mass Msgr.  at Convocation
Wednesday,  December 6th    St. Nicholas
7:30 A.M.      No Mass Msgr.  at Convocation
Thursday,  December 7th    St. Ambrose
7:30 A.M.  Peter Millaras    (Alton & Eileen Button)
Friday, December 8th   Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
7:30 A.M.  Sr. Mary Concepta    (Family) 
(Crusade of Prayer closes at 4:00 P.M.     No closing ceremony)
6:00 P.M.  Parishioners of OLPH