December 7, 2025

Dear Brothers and Sisters, During this 2nd week of Advent, we have a companion who reminds us that God’s light is never far away. The Blessed Virgin Mary, under her titles of Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe, reminds us that the Lord has already begun to shine his light in our darkness, no matter how dark it might seem. His mercy extends to every generation and people. The Blessed Virgin Mary is very much on the Church’s mind this week, as we prepare for two great celebrations: the Immaculate Conception on Monday, December the 8th, and Our Lady of Guadalupe on Friday, December the 12th. A couple quick reminders about these celebrations. First, our Lady under the title of Immaculate Conception is the patroness of the United States, so this is an important day to come together to pray for our nation. We will have special Masses on Monday, December the 8th, at 9am (English) and 7pm (bilingual). I’ll add a public service announcement that Immaculate Conception is a day of obligation, even when it happens to fall on a Monday. Second, our parish observance of Guadalupe will be spread throughout this week. The 12:30pm Mass on Sunday, December the 7th, will be followed by a parade, including traditional dancers and devotions! On December the 11th, beginning at 10pm, we will have a series of prayers and devotions, leading up to a midnight musical celebration of Our Lady (mañanitas, Spanish for “the wee hours of the night). And on December the 12th, at 7pm, we will have our main community Mass in honor of Mary under her title of the Virgin of Guadalupe. We have been working hard to make the parking situation more manageable this year, and all are invited to participate. Through the intercession of our Lady—the Immaculate Conception, the Virgin of Guadalupe, and patroness of the peoples of the New World—let’s look and see the signs of God’s light already present in this Advent season. God bless,

Father Jantz