On this December 11th, we find ourselves at the 3rd Sunday of Advent. However, we still have two more full weeks of Advent to go before we reach Christmas Day. Yes, this is one of those unusual years where Christmas falls on a Sunday.
If you haven’t noticed the Mass schedule for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, we decided to go with a traditional St. Catherine Christmas schedule: Three Vigil Masses for Christmas (4 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.) and one 10 a.m. Mass on Christmas Day. This schedule, as always, gives families the flexibility to have their customary Christmas Eve and also a familiar Christmas Day. Please note that we will also cancel the 5 p.m. Mass on Christmas Day as we have done in the past. To accommodate everyone who wants to come to Mass on Christmas, we will have Marian Hall set up for any overflow crowds that may occur.
However, on the following weekend, which is New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, we will keep our regular weekend Mass schedule (with the exception of the 5 p.m. Sunday night Mass). I will make sure we have plenty of reminders in the next two weeks so everyone can remember the schedule for this year.
Even though we are talking about the schedule for Christmas, don’t let Advent pass you by. Make sure that you are spiritually preparing your heart for the birth of Christ in the midst of a busy world and a flurry of activity before Christmas. The final Advent Penance services will be held within the next week in the Kalamazoo area parishes and don’t forget we have several priests available on Saturday mornings at 11 a.m. to hear your confession.
Come Lord Jesus! May we always open our hearts to you!