Happy New Year?

"Happy New Year!" Fr. Len greeted the congregation at 12:30 Mass yesterday with this phrase. After several confused looks and several repeated expressions from Father, we realized he wasn't crazy! Yesterday, Sunday, November 30, marked the beginning of a new year for the Church calendar and the start of the season of Advent. This is a time of waiting and preparation for the coming of Christmas.

At morning assembly, I asked students how many of them decorated their homes this past weekend. Many told me their "Shelf Elf" had come to visit, some talked about decorating their Christmas trees, and others told me about dads putting lights on the house. We often take time to make these outward preparations during Advent for Christmas. Do we take the same kind of time to prepare ours hearts? I asked the students to reflect on what inward preparations they wanted to make for the coming of Christmas.

Saint John Bosco instilled in the boys under his care a devotion to Mary, Jesus' Mother, daily communion, and frequent confession. As a school, we will provide our students an opportunity for confession next week; each Wednesday we offer our students an opportunity for communion at mass; and at the beginning of each day of Advent at school we will say a Hail Mary. Through the Intercession of Mary, we will ask God for patience during Advent to prepare our hearts for the coming of his Son, Jesus.