Nine Night Masses at St. Bart’s remembers Mary’s own Advent Advent is a season in the Church's life intended to renew the experience of waiting, and longing, for the Messiah. Though Christ has already come into the world, the Church invites us to renew our desire for the Lord more deeply into our lives, and to renew our desire for Christ's triumphant second coming into the world.

Advent has a twofold character, for it is a time of preparation for the Solemnities of Christmas, in which the First Coming of the Son of God to humanity is remembered, and likewise a time when, by remembrance of this, minds and hearts are led to look forward to Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time. For these two reasons, Advent is a period of devout and expectant delight. During Advent, we're invited to enter more into prayer and reflection, into Scripture, and into the sacramental life of the Church, all to prepare for celebrating Christmas.Our Catechism says the goal of Advent is to make present for ourselves and our families the “ancient expectancy of the Messiah...by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior's first coming.”

The Blessed Virgin Mary accompanies us in in this spiritual preparation. “Mary didn’t celebrate Advent,” Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa said, “she lived it in her flesh. Like every mother bearing a child, she knows what it means to be waiting for somebody and (she) can help us in approaching Christmas with an expectant faith.” In Advent, we live spiritually between the Annunciation and the birth of Christ. Mary teaches us the spirit of Advent.

During the NINE months of pregnancy, Mary lived a hidden life, in the spirit of silence and intense intimacy with Christ she carried in her womb.” Here at the Saint Bartholomew, we start this year (2021) the NINE NIGHT MASSES which will start on December 15 until 23 at 6:30pm (except on December 18, 5:00pm and Dec. 19, 5:30pm). To follow what our Pastoral Plan says about “parish engagement by promoting fellowship among all parishioners”, we shall have a dinner on the first (the 15th) and last night, (the 23rd) and light refreshment from the 16th and 22nd).

These nine-day series of Masses in anticipation of Christmas and to honor Mary, the Mother of Jesus, because our discipleship started with her. We invite everyone to take part in this spiritual preparation for Christmas. 

Yours in Christ,
Father Senic

Important Update!
 Discernment Weekend 3 CANCELLED

Dear Brothers and Sisters at St. Bart's,

When I first met with Fr. Senic and Fr. Linh along with staff back in May 2021, Discernment Weekend III was tentative, if we needed it.  At our Second Discernment Weekend, November 5 & 6, we got ahead of ourselves by not only producing proposed goals, we also developed many action steps to achieve the goals.  Actually, most times it is easier to talk about action steps rather than goals.  

The final goals and proposed action steps are in the process of being posted on the planning part of the parish website and should be up no later than Thursday evening, 12/2.  They will be listed under Weekend II.

Recognizing the great amount of input from Weekend I and II, I proposed to Fr. Senic and the Planning Committee that we cancel the Weekend III Discernment, December 3 & 4.  The Planning Committee will hold its final meeting on December 7th at which time it will review the many action steps and prioritize them; and present the 2022-2024 Pastoral Plan to Fr. Senic for implementation.  

These are challenging times in our society and our church, however over 190 parishioners participated in person during this planning process through focus groups and the two discernment weekends and many more than once.  This number does not include the number of people who participated in the survey for the mission, vision and values statements. Fr. Senic, Fr. Linh, the staff and I are so grateful to the Pastoral Planning Committee for their prophetic leadership and faithful participation these many months.  Let us continue to pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to shine upon this process as we prepare to celebrate the Word made Flesh.  

Fr. J0hn E. Hurley, CSP
Coordinator, St. Bart's Planning Process

Christmas Eve
Friday, December 24th

• 4:00 pm (Family Mass)
• 6:00 pm
• Midnight

Christmas Day
Saturday, December 25th

• 8:00 am
• 9:30 am
• 11:15 am
• No 5 pm Mass

Feast of the Holy Family
Sunday, December 26th

• 8:00 am
• 9:30 am
• 11:15 am
• No 5 pm Mass