The new liturgical year begins this weekend with the Season of Advent. The green Mass vestments of Ordinary time give way to the rich purples of Advent. This season has a twofold character: as a season to prepare for Christmas, when Christ's first coming among us is remembered  and as a season when that remembrance directs the mind and heart to await Christ's second coming at the end of time. Advent is thus a period for devout and prayerful preparation. Let me state the various ways this preparation will take place at St. Anastasia. This time of joyful expectation is marked with  the use of the Advent wreath with its circle of evergreens and four candles. Our Advent wreath is located in the church near the baptismal font. It will be blessed at every Mass on the first Sunday of Advent. An additional candle will be lit each week. At the conclusion of Advent, the wreath will give way to the Nativity Crib which will take its place.
 
Fr. Bill McLaughlin is offering a prayerful, reflective series entitled "Keep Christ in Advent" on the Tuesday evenings of Advent. It will take place in Father Smith Hall from 7:30--9:00 pm. All are invited.
 
The "Giving Tree" is set up for parishioners to buy a specific gift for a needy person. This practice helps to echo in our lives God's gift of His Son to us.
 
Our choir has prepared a Ceremony of Lessons and Carols which offers in song and Scripture a panorama of salvation history. It will be presented on Sunday, December 7th at 3:00 pm in the Church.
 
Finally there will be our Communal Penance Service on Monday evening, December 22nd at 7:30 in the Church. As usual we are inviting some guest priests to join us as we offer all parishioners the opportunity for the Sacrament of Penance.
 
As this is a busy season please note these events in your calendar so that your Advent will be both de- vout and joyful!
 
At Mass, the priest-presider wears two vestments  to distinguish himself as presider: the stole which hangs around his neck and hangs down in front and the chasuble worn over the stole. The color and forms of these vestments are part of the ritual experience essential to the festive character of the liturgical celebration. The vestments usually belong to the parish. If the individual vestment is of high quality and is well cared for, it could last at least a couple of lifetimes.
 
Recently I ordered some new vestments for the  parish. I went up to St. Joseph Trappist Monastery in Spencer, Ma. The monks there have been making church vestments for almost sixty years. They are known for their simplicity of design, quality of materials and excellent craftsmanship.
 
If any parishioners would like to donate a vestment in gratitude or in fond memory of a loved one, please see me or call me at the rectory for specific details. An embroidered label will be sewn into the vestment to acknowledge the generosity of the benefactor or the person remembered.