Dear Brother Knights,

By the time that you receive this message, Advent will be nearly upon us. This marks the beginning of the new Church year. This season in the Church year is a time of quiet joyful preparation for the great feast of Christmas. Because of the commercialism surrounding Christmas in our culture, Advent can be missed, if we do not consciously take part in it.

Advent has a twofold nature: it prepares us for Christmas, when we recall Christ’s first coming among us, and it is also a time when we look forward to this second coming at the end of time. To help us prepare for Christmas, we will have material at the doors of the Church and ongoing study of our mass. We will have extra times for the celebration of the sacrament of confession, and a communal penance service on December 16, at Immaculate Conception Church. Hopefully, this demonstrates our desire to welcome the Lord with purified hearts at this sacred time.

I know that this season becomes busy for you with the extra work that you do to support the various charities you sponsor, but consciously take the time to be quiet and pray that we are individually and collectively spiritually ready to make room for Christ in our lives.

Thank you for all that you do to help in our Church. Your participation and leadership in the Bereavement ceremony which we just celebrated was much appreciated. Thank you to the Fourth Degree for the honour guard and for your visible presence in Life Chain. I also thank you for the part you played in the community Remembrance Day Service.

As we approach Advent let us pray for each other as well. Happy Advent.

Your Chaplain,

Fr. Dick Bester