A New Year!

Last week we began the season of Advent in the midst of the Thanksgiving holiday, so it may have passed undetected, given the drowsiness that comes from eating too much turkey! A particular problem as the message of Advent is to stay awake and to be prepared to encounter our Lord! A new year always brings with the hope of joyful renewal. Looking back on last year, one could get hung up on the challenges and miss the blessings. When I think of 2008, I will remember the joy of the Paulist 150th celebrations, the enthusiastic response to the Paulist Father’s Capital Campaign, and a visit of Pope Benedict to the United States that gave us a spiritual boost.

Who knows what 2009 will bring? No matter what happens, the way one analyzes it will depend in large measure on our hopefulness in the Lord—a viewpoint that sees God’s hand in all things. Advent is the season to build that hope through active waiting and spiritual preparation in the midst of all the hustle and bustle of December. With that in mind, I invite you to participate in some of our Advent offerings that you see in the bulletin. I want to draw special attention to our Advent Evening Reflection on Tuesday, December 16th led by Ruth Queen Smith. She will be leading a discussion on the Infancy Narratives (The stories of Jesus’ birth). This is a unique opportunity to study scriptures that get lost in the shuffle. Celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation at our Penance Service on Tuesday is another way to get ready for Christmas. For me, going to confession during Advent provides a lightness that helps me get into the joy of Christmas. I certainly recommend it!

Finally to all students and parishioners who are graduating and/or departing from Knoxville this term, please be assured of our prayers and heartfelt best wishes as you continue life’s journey. May the future bring you all good things. Please keep in touch!

Welcome New Members!

This past Sunday evening at the 5:30 p.m. Mass, we welcomed 14 individuals who have been attending RCIA classes as new members of the Catholic Church. Four of them are now catechumens (those to be baptized at the Easter Vigil) and the other 10 are candidates, baptized Christians who seek full communion in the Catholic Church. Many of them are students here at the University. One of them, Chris Young, will make a profession of faith and be confirmed this Sunday evening before he is deployed for military service in the New Year.

At the Rite of Welcome, we don’t tell them much about what will happen, and in many cases, it is their first time participating in any type of Church ritual. It is very moving to see their faces as they are brought into the church and they see how they are embraced by the congregation by prayer, blessing, and applause. One new catechumen, Zach, told me he was very nervous that evening and was grateful his sponsor had her hand on his shoulder the whole time. He said jokingly that it keep him from running out the door.

Zach’s reflections reminded me what a huge leap of faith these folks are taking to grow their relationship with God. Just having the courage to walk in the door for the first RCIA meeting was a huge step, according to some in this class. To grow one’s faith, one has to make those kinds of leaps. No doubt, they were able to do that because of the support of you and the witness you give by your active participation in the Eucharist and in the life of the parish. They have seen the Spirit alive in our midst. Each remarked during the ritual that they sought our prayers, support, and fellowship on their journeys.

May these fine catechumens and candidates be an encouragement to us, to always be searching for the Lord in our lives and taking leaps of faith to grow our relationship with God!