TURNING PARISH AND PASTORAL FOCUSES TO THANKSGIVING, ADVENT, AND CHRISTMAS...........

Parish Life is a continuous cycle of activity, prayer, worship, ministry, preparation, and readiness; for what is happening, approaching, or is forthcoming.  Even as we wind down Liturgical Year 2011, and prepare to promulgate use of the new Roman Missal and changes in the Mass Texts on Sunday November 27th, with ten days before ThanksGiving Day, we are earnestly working on our national harvest holiday as a parish community, with the annual Parish ThanksGiving Dinner next Saturday November 19th, for our parishioners, neighbors, and the poor and needy, in the wider community.  As it has been for several years, the meal is being readied and will be served by the family of Dennis and Lucy Gonzales and a truly dedicated team of parishioner and community volunteers.  All Are Welcome.  Organizing parish materials and resources for the Season of Advent which opens ThanksGiving weekend November 26/27, has also been a focus for the past several days, as has been the start of taking names of families requesting assistance from OLOL Parish for Christmas.  Upwards of twenty calls and inquiries, have already come into the Parish Office, during the past two weeks.  Today, I also have been working on the Christmas Schedule of Masses and Confessions, which we will celebrate - and will be mailed to all our registered parish families.  All in the spirit, of the end of the calendar year and the holiday season coming upon us; and the joy and happiness these special days of November and December, bring us as American citizens, Catholic-Christian believers, and the People of God, in Thanksgiving and Gratitude For The Blessings Of Life And Faith in Jesus The Lord,   Fr.  Troy