Dear Parishioners, This weekend we celebrate Gaudete Sunday. The rose color vestments, worn just twice a year, come out of the closet today. It’s hard to believe that we have already arrived at the 3rd Sunday of Advent. This Sunday reminds us how near the celebration of our Lord’s birth truly is. Let us rejoice! As we also enter into the final weeks of the calendar year 2021, we look back and remember the passing of two of our permanent deacons. Deacon Ed passed away in February. Deacon Jack passed away in November. But as always, the Lord has a plan for us at St. Catherine; Deacon Brian will not be the only deacon assigned to our parish. By now, you may have heard that we have a new deacon, and may have met Deacon Ron Brown. He and his wife moved into the Portage area earlier in the year from the Diocese of Joliet in Illinois. When he heard that our clergy resources were dwindling this year, he offered his service to the parish. Bishop Bradley accepted that offer and Deacon Brown has now officially joined us at St. Catherine and will be celebrating Christmas with us this year. Welcome, Deacon Brown! Drawing closer and closer to the celebration of Christmas with each passing day, may the Lord enter our hearts during these remaining days of Advent! Thanks for reading! Fr. Mark