Advent 2020 Message from Father Gase

My Dear Parishioners,

We are quickly approaching the Advent season: the beginning of a new liturgical year in our Church, and a season of preparation for the twofold coming of Jesus: the celebration of His birth at Christmas and the preparation of our hearts for His second coming.

Certainly the celebration of Christmas is something we all desperately need in our broken world: the celebration of God Incarnate. The fact that the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity would humble Himself and take on human flesh is proof of our Lord’s closeness with us!

Our parish is also starting to make preparations for Christmas. The Christmas celebrations at Immaculate Conception will be very different than they have been in the past due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The seating capacity in the church has been drastically reduced in order to accommodate social distancing.

Our Christmas Mass schedule will be different this year. Masses will be celebrated at 4:00 pm, 7:00 pm, 10:00 pm on Christmas Eve and at 10:00 am Christmas Day. This Christmas Mass schedule will be utilized this year only; it is my full intention that in 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic is over we will be able to return to the typical schedule our parish has celebrated in years’ past.

In order to accommodate as many as possible at our Christmas Masses we will need your help. If you typically attend the 4:30 pm Christmas Eve Mass I would like to ask you to prayerfully consider attending the 7:00 pm Mass in order to accommodate worshipers in our seating-limited church. There will be limited overflow seating with livestream video available in the parish hall. This option will only be available for the 4:00 pm, 7:00 pm, and 10:00 pm Masses.

Since the celebration of Christmas at our parish poses many unknown variables, we would also like you to tell us which Mass you will be attending and how many members of your family will be with you. Beginning Tuesday December 1 a link to a survey will be posted on our parish web site. Please kindly fill it out and help us get a better grasp of how many to expect at our Masses. If you do not have internet access, please call the parish office. Thank you so much for your help and cooperation!

Spiritual preparation for Christmas is also very important. On Thursday December 17 I will be offering a special Day of Grace. Every hour, on the hour, I will be available for the Sacrament of Confession at 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm, 6:00 pm, 7:00 pm, and 8:00 pm. Each hour I will remain in the confessional until all confessions are heard. In order to maintain the health and safety for both myself and the penitent I ask that you please only go to confession behind the screen.

God bless you and your families as you prepare for the coming of the Lord!

Rev. Kyle T. Gase