2020 Fall Retreat – December 11 & 12
We are offering a Fall Retreat for our Confirmation and High School Teens. This will be a 2-day Retreat on December 11 & 12 (Friday and Saturday) to be held here at St. Martha. Friday schedule is from 5pm to 9pm, Saturday schedule is from 11am to 6pm. You may register online or to the office. This will be a first come, first serve basis as we will only take 40 participants.
So please register now.
Annual Christmas Toy-Give-Away
We are asking our Year 1 & 2 Candidates, Parents, Sponsors and the Community of St. Martha to Donate New and Unwrapped toys for our Annual Christmas Toy-Give-Away. Our Toy-Give-Away will be held on December 19 from 9am to 11am. Please drop your toy donation in the Rectory or at the Youth Office. “Let us all put a smile and cheer to our most unfortunate children in our parish & community!”
Reminder: Year 1 Mass – November 29 @ 5pm Mass
Challenge
1st Sunday of Advent – Today we begin the season of Advent, which marks the start of a new liturgical year for the Church. This week and next week, our readings from Mark’s Gospel present two important Advent themes: the Lord’s return at the end of time and John the Baptist’s preparation for Jesus. Today’s passage comes at the conclusion of Jesus’ warnings to his disciples. Jesus emphasizes the need for watchfulness. The Son of Man will come without warning; only the Father knows the exact hour. The disciples must not be caught unprepared when this time comes.
Today’s Gospel reminds us that Advent is about more than our preparation for the Church’s celebration of Christ’s birth at Christmas. Advent is also about preparing ourselves for Christ’s return in glory at the end of time. Like the disciples and the faithful in Mark’s community, we must also stay alert and watchful. Our faithfulness to God, through the good times as well as the difficult times, shows us to be ready for the coming of the Son of Man.
Jesus warns his disciples to be watchful so that they will be ready when the Son of Man comes. Are you ready when the Son of Man comes? Have you prepared yourself well to meet him?
Mark 13:33-37
If you can attend Mass in person and you are longing for Him in the Eucharist, then He wants to see you.
Come to Mass this Sunday and be transformed by His Word and by the Eucharist.
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, Not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
2 Corinthians 9:7