FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK……

November 30, 2003

Dear Fellow Parishioners,

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Before you think that I've gone crazy, let me explain my greeting.  Today is the first Sunday of Advent.  It is the first day of an entirely new liturgical year.  The word "Advent" comes from the Latin Verb "advenire" which, roughly translated, means "to approach" or "to come near."  Traditionally, Advent is how we prepare to celebrate the three comings of Christ -- first, His coming at Christmas more than 2000 years ago; secondly, His future coming at the end of the world; and thirdly, His coming into our lives here and now --- especially in the Mass -- through the reading & proclamation of His word, through His coming into our hearts through receiving His Body & Blood in Holy Communion, and through His presence in others as they come into our lives --- especially in the poor and rejected people of this world.  Unfortunately, many did not recognize Him when He came the first time into our world.  Sadly, many of us don't recognize Him now as He comes to us in the daily course of our lives --- especially in those people we tend to despise, ignore, or avoid.

That's why we are in the process of renewing our Sunday liturgy here at Old Mission San Miguel this Advent season.  Last week, I mentioned that our goal will be to achieve what Cardinal Roger Mahony in his pastoral letter GATHER FAITHFULLY TOGETHER refers to as "full, conscious, & active participation" of all of us here at Sunday Mass in Old Mission San Miguel.  I also explained what is meant by the word "full."  Today, I'd like to focus on the second element of our goal "conscious participation."  In his pastoral letter, Cardinal Mahony describes this element thus: "IN ADDITION, OUR PARTICIPATION IS TO BE 'CONSCIOUS'.  'Conscious' participation is opening every part of ourselves --- body, mind, and spirit --- to what we do at the liturgy.  Another way to be 'conscious' at the liturgy is to be aware of our baptism.  Cultivate, then, your deep awareness that it is not so many individuals who are standing here singing, but the Church."  The Cardinal urges us to enter with greater openness into the chant and song, the processions and gestures, the words and silences when attending Sunday Mass.  He goes on to say that we should stand consciously and with attention when at Sunday Mass.  He reminds us that we come on the Lord's Day to the table of the Eucharist, because we have been through the waters of Baptism.  He further points out that because we have been through the waters of Baptism, we have died to our old selves and become alive in Christ.  Therefore, we gather on Sunday, not as isolated persons, but as the Church, with its diversity of cultures, languages, and races.  It is as Church that we are sent forth to be leaven in the midst of the world God loves.  What a difference this would make here at Old Mission San Miguel in 2004.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Raymond J. Tintle, OFM
Pastor