WHY CELEBRATE THE PARISH CHRISTMAS PARTY POTLUCK THREE WEEKS EARLY ???..........

For my twenty three years as a priest I have preached and tried to convince practicing Catholic-Christians not to front load the observance of Christmas and running roughshod over the Advent Season, by celebrating parish Christmas parties and other holiday events prematurely early in December.  Alas, for the most part it has fallen on deaf ears and  otherwise determined minds, who give in to the crush of the season and set them as soon in December as possible, as one more thing on the Christmas list to be completed and checked off.  Next !  So I have abandoned my appeal and come to uneasily accept that's the way it will be.  OLOL Ladies Council Parish Christmas Party Potluck falls in that catergory and happens tomorrow morning after the 10:30 am.  It will be a very nice event likely with several dozens plus parishioners in attendance, along with Father Traynor, Sisters Felicity, and Theresa, and myself.  To my liturgically oriented mind, having the party next Sunday, the 3rd and Joyful Sunday of Advent, which this year supplants the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, would have been the better early date for the Christmas, as it is understandable Sunday December 19, with families departing on Christmas vacations might be too late.  It is a stretch of a mixed signal to be observing Advent and celebrating Christmas simultaneously.  Especially when yours truly must announce all parishioners are invited, in what I find it able to call, this festive season.  Christmas will be here in just twenty days and will give bus a 16 day season to celebrate from 4 pm December 24 through Midnight January 9.  Rushing Christmas and diminishing Advent, puts the cart before the horse, for Disciples of Jesus the Christ, but in an imperfect world, even in the Church, we must accept the pressures of the holiday season will sometimes dictate the schedule..........Happy Advent God's People,   Fr.  Troy