St. John Neumann
Catholic Church

(Mary Lou Schwaner heads Communications and Media and Liturgy Coordination for St. John Neumann and is this week's guest columnist.)

Monsignor David has invited me to write this column for the beginning of Advent. Thank you for the great honor!

When I was a kid, I always used to wonder why our house was the last one on the block to put up the Christmas tree. It was usually just a few days before Christmas, and by then, the selection was not so great, but the deals were. Coming from a family of nine, I assumed this was the reason... the almighty dollar. Ours were stretched pretty thin.

We routinely baked our holiday cookies, cinnamon rolls, and fruitcakes two weekends before Christmas... like clockwork... though I didn't know there was method behind the madness at the time.

It turns out that my parents were wizards at keeping the seasons straight! Advent was the time of preparation for the coming of Jesus, NOT the time for the celebration of Christmas! They were careful to keep their seven children from focusing too much on the gifts, the Santa arrival, the mounds of gimme's!

Instead, we went to the nursing homes with our parish priest, to sing and bring joy to the elderly. We walked the two blocks to weekly confession. We voluntarily shoveled the snow from mean ol' Ms. Daly's steep driveway. We cleaned our house from top to bottom for the guests that would be visiting when Christmas finally arrived.

But let me tell you, the anticipation we felt when we finally got to taste our first Christmas cookies, or take out the Christmas decorations from the "cubby hole" in the basement, or go with my dad to pick out the tree, and untangle the lights, and put out our favorite ornaments from years gone by... THAT anticipation is what the season of Advent is all about! It's what WE'RE about these next four weeks, as we prepare with great anticipation the coming of our Lord!

This coming week, our parish is doing it's very best to help you with your Advent preparations. Tomorrow, Monday, Nov. 30, our parish will begin the season of Advent with true renewal of heart... yours and mine. The Advent Penance Service beginning at 7:30 PM and the evening of Reconciliation with our Lord is a great way to begin this preparation time. I hope that you will be able to join us in remembering the true light that guides our path, Jesus, the Christ! He waits for you to come, just as you wait for him to come!

Then, on Thursday, Dec. 3, from 6:00-7:30 PM in Lind Hall (that's an adjusted time... we need more time!), the families of our parish will gather for "Advent-ures in Faith: Sharing Family Advent Traditions". We will share some ideas that can bring your family into the season of Advent, anticipating the coming of the Lord...  We ask that each family bring a dessert to share, and we will provide the rest! Children are welcome! And, when we finish in Lind Hall, stop in and spend a few moments with "Emmanuel"... our "God who is WITH US" in the holy Eucharist at Adoration!

To end a wonderful First Week of Advent, come and share in the joy and anticipation of good food at our parish's Table of Fellowship pot luck supper at 6:00-7:30 PM in Donnellan Hall. The bulletin today has the details of what to bring. Most especially, bring your glad tidings and come hungry!

It is with great anticipation that I look forward to seeing you!

Best wishes,
Mary Lou Schwaner