Advent, Updates, & an Invitation

This new calendar year has started out with so much to offer back to our Lord Jesus Christ. If we can continue this focus we will have great gifts to offer the King upon the Incarnation!

Kathleen came down with COVID for the 4th time since 2020 and her broken wrist is still healing.

We live in an area of the US that received (so far) 3+ feet of snow in 1 day. To our friends to the north… Buffalo, you are welcome to take home the trophy for the most snowfall.

Because of the heavy snowfall and all that brings, Jerry was unable – for the first time since age 12 – to hunt. It’s been a family tradition for decades; something that he and his brother look forward to each Saturday after Thanksgiving. The blizzard just made it a little too difficult.

Due to the heavy snowfall, the Erie churches closed and our Bishop lifted the Sunday obligation. We virtually attended Our Lady of the Gulf in Mississippi with Fr. Mike O’Connor, aka “The Pod Apostle” (great homilies) – our go-to parish in times of calamity or when illness strikes.

It was a very quiet Thanksgiving and First Sunday of Advent. But, isn’t that where we can hear God the loudest? In the stillness our day… if we choose to take advantage of those little moments; even make time and schedule them.

Kathleen has mentioned several time in the past few emails that she would be working through the book, “Encountering Emmanuel: Guided Advent Journal for Prayer and Meditation” by Heather Kyhm. And, she’s inviting your to join each Thursday, 7pm EST, in Advent to gather and talk about the inspiring and healing material.

If you would like a profound and powerful companion to encourage you this Advent, please consider joining us!

Each chapter is one day during Advent. This Thursday we will draw from Heather’s study guide to take us deeper as Jesus meets us – personally – wherever we may be in our faith journey

Our gathering will be held each Thursday at 7:00pm EST: December 5, December 12, and December 19th. There is no cost to join and the book is also available in Kindle form.

If you’d like to join, please send Kathleen (roaminkath@gmail.com) a quick text and she will put you on the list for weekly informational emails which will be sent to you on Wednesday prior to our Thursday gatherings These email include journal prompts, videos, a prayer, and the link and password to attend.

We do hope you will join us. Even if your parish has plans, this is a great way to participate in Advent without leaving your home!

So, whether or not you decide to join us, I want to leave you with a question to take to prayer and reflect upon:

In what way do you hope your heart will be changed during this season to make room for the Christ Child?

I do hope you will join me in this pilgrimage to the Nativity! Shoot me an email so I can add you to the list. Just put “Advent” in the subject line.

Please pray for us as we pray for you!