Today, the Third Sunday of Advent, is known as Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete comes from the Latin word for rejoice. On this Sunday we rejoice and light the rose colored candle on the advent wreath to show that the Lord is near.  We have a joyful expectation for the Lord’s birth.  In his letter to the Philippians, St. Paul wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near.”
During this Advent season God has been calling us to turn away from our sins because they prevent him from coming to us and entering more fully into our hearts and our lives.  Prepare for the Coming of the Lord on Christmas by making a good Confession. Confessions will be heard at Our Lady of the Hills today after Mass and next Sunday after Mass and on Monday, December 15 and 22, after the 11:00 AM Mass. At St. Anthony’s, Confessions will be heard from 4:45 to 5:15 PM on Saturday before the 5:30 PM Mass. Confessions will also be heard from 3:00 to 4:00 PM on Tuesday, December 16, and Tuesday, December 23, and on Wednesday, December 16, at 6:00 PM before the 6:30 PM Mass and also after that Mass.
Christmas Masses at St. Anthony’s are at 5:30 PM on December 24, and at 10:00 AM on December 25.
Christmas Mass at Our Lady of the Hills is at 8:00 PM on December 24.