Thank you to all of you who prayerfully considered making a pledge or committing to pray for the sake of our parish responsibility to the one by One Campaign. Last Saturday’s and Sunday’s Masses were focused on bringing our campaign to a completion. However, we will very likely need to communicate with some of you for the sake of being clear about your intentions and plans for the Campaign. For those people who did not have enough time or information to make a decision about your pledge, we will continue to try to reach out to you and assist you in any way we can.

Another thank you goes to those who helped to celebrate the Feasts of Mary (Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe). I am grateful to Alma Vazquez and the other people who assisted in creating a beautiful altar for Mary Immaculate. The blue and white flowers and materials match well with the statue of Mary which, for the remainder of the year, watches over the front entrance to our church near Adams Street. Sometime this year we will need to do some repairs on the ceramic material on the base of the statue. It has begun to crack.

The next thank you goes to the many people who created Tepeyac Hill on which Our Lady of Guadalupe (OLOG) now stands looking over. And thanks to the liturgical musicians, prayer pilgrims, actors in the skit about OLOG, the band, the children and teenagers who sang before Mass, the “all-star,” multi-cultural choir, the cooks and vendors, those who helped put flowers in vases, and to the many volunteers who organized, set-up and cleaned. There are many people who make extra efforts and sacrifices around the Feast of OLOG because they want to honor Our Lady.

The women of the Sanctuary Society also deserve gratitude for a successful raffle and bake sale, the money from which will pay for materials and supplies we use in the church (candles, hosts, wine, liturgical books, vestments, etc.). The women provide a great atmosphere in the Gathering Space each year around the beginning of Advent. As I spoke of “hope” and “expectation” during the homily that day, there were many who hoped to win one of the many nice raffle prizes. Thank you to all of you who bought tickets and sweets!

As we begin the second part of Advent (Advent II), let us anticipate the birth of the Christ child with excitement and gratitude for the blessings of God, who became one of us!

Peace, Fr. Andy