Keeping Advent at IHM

ARCHBISHOP HARTMAYER has extended the dispensation from the Sunday Mass obligation until further notice. Those who may have been exposed to Covid , those who experience any symptoms of potential Covid illness, those at increased risk of complications from illness and those who care for them, should continue to join us by live-stream.
 

THE GIVING TREE helps make Christmas a day of joy for many children in need in our neighborhood. “Virtual Christmas tags” are available HERE.  If you don’t have access to a computer to, please call 404-248- 3977 between 9am and 8pm to speak with a SVDP member. For more information, please visit the parish website. Thank you from the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

 
ADVENT CONFESSIONS: Instead of the customary Advent Penance Service, Monsignor Al and Father Carlos will hear drive-up confessions outdoors on Monday, November 30, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Drive-up confessions will also be available on Wednesday evenings, December 2, 9 and 16, 7:00-8:00 p.m.; and Saturday mornings, December 5, 12 and 19, 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Please enter from Briarcliff on the upper driveway, and follow directions to the first available confessor. Penitents will not leave their cars, and to maintain privacy, there can be only one person in the car.  We realize that this is not ideal for everyone—especially for families with children. But remember: In light of the pandemic, those who are unable to confess in person may make a perfect act of contrition, resolve to go to confession when the pandemic has passed, and be confident that even their grave sins are forgiven.
 

THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, the patronal feast of the Church in the United States, is celebrated Tuesday, December 8. Come honor the Mother of the Redeemer at the 8:30am, 12:00pm or 7:00pm mass.
 

THE FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE is Saturday, December 12. Pope St. John Paul II named Our Lady of Guadalupe the Patroness of All the Americas. Everyone is invited to join the festive Vigil Mass at 7:00 p.m. on Friday via livestream.


THE HANGING O’ THE GREENS will look a bit different – like so many things this year! In order to ensure the safety of all, we will decorate the church over 3 nights, Monday-Wednesday, December 21-23. Families are invited to volunteer for specific tasks on specific nights. None should take more than an hour. Each task will be in a specific area of the church, so that social distancing can be maintained. It will still be fun, and it will still help us prepare our church and our hearts for the coming of Christ! Please join us. Sign up HERE.  Contact Jeff Bush for more information.

The Advent wreath is made of four candles—three purple and one rose—representing the Light of Christ com-ing into the world, and a circle of green branches, representing eternal life. Before the first candle is lighted, the household gathers for this blessing:

All make the sign of the cross: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The leader begins: Our help is in the name of the Lord. All respond: Who made heaven and earth. Then scripture is read from the family bible: Isaiah 9:1-7 (The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light...)

After a time of silence, all join in prayers of intercession and the Lord’s Prayer.

The leader then prays over the wreath: Lord our God, we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ: He is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples; his is the wisdom that teaches and guides us; he is the Savior of every nation. Lord God, let your blessing come upon us as we light the candles of this wreath. May the wreath and its light be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring us salvation. May he come quickly and not delay. We ask this through Christ our Lord. All respond: Amen.

The first candle is then lighted.

The leader says: May the light of Christ lead us to the joy of his Kingdom, now and forever.
All respond: Amen, making the sign of the cross. All end singing: O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appears. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel.

On each subsequent week of Advent as the candles are lighted, the house-hold joins in singing the verse of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel above. The rose-colored candle is lighted on the Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete, or Rejoice! Sunday.