Dear Brother Knights,

By the time that you receive this message our Liturgical Year will be ending, and a new season called Advent will have started along with a new liturgical year.

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 his second coming at the end of the ages. Advent is a season of joyful expectation. During Advent, each Sunday’s Gospel reading has a specific focus. The Old Testament readings, especially those taken from Isaiah, are prophecies about the Messiah and messianic times. The selections from the writings of the Apostles present exhortations and instructions on different themes of this season.

To help prepare for the great feast of Christmas, we will have Advent materials to help us pray and meditate. We will have increased opportunities to celebrate the sacrament of confession.

This season is a time of waiting, and can get lost in all the busyness of the preparations for Christmas. Part of our waiting might be taking time to pray and setting time aside to reflect. If we think about it, our lives are an Advent. Let us all have a good Advent season.

Again, I want to thank you for all that you do for the Church and the wider community. May God bless you and your families.

Your Chaplain,

Fr. Dick Bester