This week we begin both a new liturgical year and also a new liturgical season. We now will be hearing from the cycle A readings in which is largely comprised of the Gospel of Saint Matthew. During Advent, our focus moves towards the hope we have in the second coming of Jesus. That is why we look to the liturgical east and journey towards Christmas with our minds focused on the hopeful expectation; all facing the same direction anticipating the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Also, this week we are truly blessed to be able to have the torch in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This torch has been at several other parishes in order to increase the devotion to our Patroness of America and the Pro-life movement. St John’s Parish has been entrusted as one of the last parishes to celebrate this great devotion to our Blessed Mother of Guadalupe. At the end of this week, we will have a special Ordinary Form Mass on Friday at 7:00pm in honor of Our Lady as we conclude our devotion by sending the torch to our Mother Church, the Ca- thedral of Saint Mary in Trenton. After a procession through the streets of Trenton, Bishop O’Connell will celebrate a special Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Saturday, December 7.

I pray that we all have a very blessed Advent and truly prepare ourselves for the celebration of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. May we pray with our Blessed Mother that our hearts may prepare the way for the coming of our Lord.