We had another successful year with our Advent Giving Trees! Mary, Mother of God parishioners generously bought gifts for seniors and families in our neighborhood to help make their Christmas extra special. Thank you to the many volunteers who helped sort, wrap, and distribute the gifts. We had a lot of help from the St. Vincent de Paul Society as well as parishioners who answered the call. The gifts were given out at the Food Pantry the week before Christmas.

Dear Lord, please bless those who receive these gifts; bless the community of Mary, Mother of God; and bless the whole world with thankfulness and peace, for you are the giver of all good gifts. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

La novena de aguinaldos is a religious celebration during Advent in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela done in anticipation of the birth of Christ. For nine consecutive days, the journey of the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph is remembered and honored with prayers and song. 

​This year, the novena began on December 13 and ended on December 21. Our parish hosted the fifth night on Tuesday, December 17 at St. Ita church.

We wish farewell to the three Franciscan postulants who have been serving at our parish Food Pantry. Thank you to Paul, Matthew, and Tristen who had their last day on Monday. In January, they will begin another ministry as part of their formation program. Vocations Director, Br. Bernard, also brings vocation guests who are visiting the friar community to visit the food pantry. We are grateful for the presence of the friars in our parish and their support of our outreach to the poor!

Postulancy is a year-long program of living within the Conventual Franciscan community and learning the daily rhythm of the Religious Life. This is the stage of formation directly after a young man's application is accepted by the friars. Click here if you would like to learn more.

On Saturday, December 14, our parish cultural center St. Gregory’s Hall hosted a Marian-themed Advent Retreat for the parish and larger community. Attendees came together for a day of prayer, reflection, and creativity in celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

The retreat began with a Meditation with Fr. Thomas Fetz, OFM Conv. on the Angelus prayer and Marian hymnody in the church. After lunch, was the Illumination Workshop with Artist-in-residence Sarah Crow. Workshop participants created a 15th century Florentine-style illuminated letter "M" with Marian symbols using paint and shell gold.

Un momento destacado de la temporada de Adviento fueron las celebraciones de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en la parroquia el 12 de diciembre. Comenzando a las 4 a. m. con Las Mañanitas y durante todo el día hasta la cena de celebración en Jubilee Hall, fue un día maravilloso de oración, canto y devoción. Gracias a todos los que planearon, decoraron y se ofrecieron como voluntarios y gracias al obispo Bartosic por celebrar la misa vespertina bilingüe.

A highlight of the Advent season was the parish's Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrations on December 12. Starting at 4 AM with Las Mañanitas and running all day until the celebration dinner in Jubilee Hall, it was a wonderful day of prayer, song, and devotion. Thank you to everyone who planned, decorated, and volunteered and thank you to Bishop Bartosic for celebrating the Bilingual evening Mass. 

We want to celebrate two recent donations to the Food Pantry. This week, a regular volunteer bought and set up racks for personal hygiene products, and the parishioners of St. Padre Pio Parish (created by the unification of Transfiguration of Our Lord and St. Hilary Parishes) generously donated food and pantry goods. We deeply appreciate the support for this important outreach to the poor in our community!

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