Contents: Thanksgiving Prayer, Fr. George, Nativity Event, Christmas Schedule, Religious Ed Updates, Parish Updates, Reflection, Local Christmas Events, Mass Intentions
Note: Daily Masses return to the main church, and livestreaming will resume next week!
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A Message from Fr. George
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Staying Awake: Are you ready for Advent?
The Season of Advent ushers us to prepare for the birth of the Savior at Christmas. As we repeat this season throughout our lives, our consciousness seems to forget its relevance. Advent is a moment of joy in full anticipation of something great to come. “Adventus” speaks about “Springtime”, a new beginning to look vividly at the plan of God as we start another prayerful journey.
In our parish community we shall find a lot of opportunities to celebrate advent. One of the most moving experiences to consider is to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation (Advent Penance Service, December 12 at 7pm). We are also encouraged to awaken ourselves to the needs of our brothers and sisters, especially the poor and hungry. I am so touched seeing our Christmas Gift Giving Tree ran out so fast with generous donors who were willing to share their blessings.
Let us approach this Season of Advent with mindful disposition of getting closer to Jesus. Truly, we need to be awake, the Lord is coming! May this season becomes a moment of true joy and meaningful preparation. Christmas will only be blessed when Advent ushered us in prayerful hope.
Come Lord Jesus, come!
Fr. George
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Thanksgiving Prayer
Lord, we thank you
for the goodness of our people
and for the spirit of justice
that fills this nation.
We thank you for the beauty and fullness of the
land and the challenge of the cities.
We thank you for our work and our rest,
for one another, and for our homes.
We thank you, Lord:
accept our thanksgiving on this day.
We pray and give thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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Family Nativity Event
Sunday, 12/4/2022 10:15 AM
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Christmas Nativity Event
Sunday, December 4th at 10:15 AM we are having a family Nativity Event!
All are invited to a morning of refreshments, arts and crafts, a cookie walk, and St. Nicholas himself will be in attendance! His feast day isn't until the following Tuesday, but we've been assured he visit us a bit early.
Additionally, feel free to bring a piece of your nativity set (or the whole thing if you are feeling ambitious) for a blessing by Fr. George!
Volunteer Baking Opportunity
Do you like to bake, but don't always want all those sweets around? We are looking for donations in the forms of plates of home-made cookies! You'll be able to drop them off up to a few days prior to the event if you aren't going to be able to join us that Sunday!
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Christmas Mass Schedule
Saturday, December 24th we will have Masses at 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM. Sunday, December 25th we will have a single Mass at 9:00 AM.
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Religious Education Corner
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Sunday School Reminder
We have Classes on Sunday, November 27th and December 11th. Classes always begin after the 9:00 AM Mass at 10:15 AM. It's NEVER too late to join us.
Sunday, December 4th we have our Nativity event for all ages. No RSVP needed.
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Yesterday was The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe and to celebrate such an important day we held a Eucharistic Procession, in which we celebrate the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.
To quote St Cyril of Jerusalem (~350 AD): “Since Christ Himself has said, ‘This is My Body,’ who shall dare to doubt that it is His Body?”
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Monday, December 12th, at 7:00 PM a number of priests in the surrounding Hampton Roads area will gather to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
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As this season brings increased need, thank you so much for you donations over the last week. The food pantry is still seeking:
- Cereal
- Tomato Sauce (Large and small cans)
- PB
- Jelly
- Grits
- Pie crust mix or ready made pie crusts
- Muffin mix
- Mac & Cheese
- Nuts/dried fruit
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Why Is It So Hard to Pray?
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You know that feeling. You sit down with your Bible and cup of coffee to spend some time with Jesus. But the distractions start. It feels like the conversation is sterile and dry. What can you do?
Today, Fr. Mark-Mary offers some reasons why prayer is hard and what can be done to remedy that dryness and find consolation and intimacy with Christ in our daily prayer life.
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There are a Mess of Christmas Decoration events happening in our city, we are reposting several of them here!
Nov. 24-Jan. 1, 5:30-10 p.m. nightly
Newport News Park
$12 per car Mon.-Thur., $15 per car Fri.-Sun., $75 per bus (every day)
$10 in advance (per car) available at the Newport News Visitor Center
Celebration in Lights is two miles of dazzling holiday light displays set among the beautiful woods and waterways at Newport News Park. Now in its 30th season, the event has grown each year and has over one million lights creating holiday and fanciful scenes. New this year are the holiday tubing bear, holiday cascade (an overhead light display), a variety of candy-themed display pieces, deer displays, and 3D trees. Open nightly, 5:30-10 p.m., Thanksgiving Day through New Year’s Day.
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Nightly light show, Dec. 3-Jan. 1, 5-9 p.m.
Holiday Tree Lighting & Festivities – Dec. 3, 5-8 p.m.
City Center at Oyster Point; free admission, free parking
Sponsored by City Center at Oyster Point, Lights at the Fountain sets the scene for the perfect holiday stroll around City Center’s five-acre fountain plaza. Delighting all ages is a 16-minute synchronized light show playing every half hour from 5 to 9 p.m. nightly. The immersive light show experience synchronizes a 42′ animated performance holiday tree, 55 perimeter trees circling the fountain, and 16 snow machines with a festive soundtrack. New this year is Wave-Field, an interactive art exhibit comprised of eight publicly activated, luminous, and musical seesaws. On Saturday, Dec. 3, from 5-8 p.m. the holiday tree lighting ceremony and event festivities will fill City Center with live stage entertainment, seasonal gift vendors, an ice sculpting exhibition, face painters, food vendors, carnival games, children’s crafts, and strolling entertainers.
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Special Event Festivities – Dec. 10, 5-8 p.m.
Weekend Skating Rink – Dec. 9-11, hours vary
Brooks Crossing; free admission, free parking
Brooks Crossing comes to life with ARTech Lights, sponsored by Dominion Energy, including seasonal décor and an animated light and sound show that plays every half hour on the holiday tree from 5-9 p.m. On Dec. 10, enjoy special hands-on "techtivities" from 5-8 p.m. with a variety of STEM-related activities provided by the Innovation Lab and Newport News Shipbuilding MX trailer, along with a live DJ, strolling performers, games and prizes, food and beverage vendors, face painters, a “silent disco,” free hot chocolate and giveaways (while supplies last), and a synthetic ice skating rink onsite for the weekend. Have your picture taken with Santa from 6-7:30 p.m.
Other scheduled activities in the Ferguson NlightN Holiday Event Series include:
Santa’s Toy Shop, Denbigh Community Center, Dec. 3-30, Free admission, free parking
This year, Santa’s helpers have transformed Denbigh Community Center into Santa’s Workshop with festive holiday décor, painted windows, colorful lights, and a sleigh. Free activities for the public include: toy and ornament workshops, children’s gift wrapping stations, a hot chocolate bar, and holiday movies. It’s a great location for family photos and selfies, too. Several indoor special events take place throughout the month. Look to the website for details.
Holiday Frost “Cribs Edition,” Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center, Dec. 9, 4-8 p.m. Free admission and parking; registration requested
Come and explore the fun, quirky, and sweet “crib” of the king of Christmas, Santa Claus. Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center offers three floors of activities and fun during this dashing event, including 360-degree photos with Santa, games, karaoke, candy giveaways, cookies with Mrs. Claus, crafts, face painting, and costumed characters. Register online.
Holiday Home Lights Tour
Again this year, we are inviting Newport News homeowners, businesses, and places of worship to join us in lighting up the city by signing up to be a stop on our self-guided city-wide Holiday Home Lights Tour. Participants can pick up a sign announcing they are part of the NlightN Holiday Tour and they will be included on an online tour map (details coming soon).
For more information on the Ferguson NlightN Holiday Event Series, visit www.nnparks.com/NlightN or call 757-926-1400.
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November 29 thru December 4, 2022
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
- Santos and Gertrude Rabusa
Saturday
Sunday
- 7:00 AM – Flordeliza Crisologo
- 9:00 AM – Martin Wever
- 12:00 PM – Joan Cawthon
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