We celebrate Christ the King this weekend. I have just learned that this is the 100th anniversary of the Church adding this feast day to the calendar and there is a movement to have processions and adoration in honor of that anniversary. We will have the Blessed Sacrament exposed in our church from 2:00-4:00 this Sunday afternoon, Nov. 23.
On Tuesday evening, Nov. 25, we are invited to an interfaith Thanksgiving service at Achduth Vesholom, the Jewish Temple on Old Mill Road at 7 p.m. It will be a very interesting event with representatives from a wide variety of faith traditions. If you would like to carpool with other St. Charles parishioners, join us in our parking lot at 6:30.
On Thursday our nation stops for a day of rest and a day to thank the Lord for all of our blessings. All of us need to give thanks for our faith, for a nation which is prosperous and a nation that is not at war. We are blessed to be born into the time and place in which we find ourselves. I offer thanks too for this parish. We have a vibrant faith in this parish with lots of children, generous people, volunteers ready to help, and growing numbers taking part in the sacraments. I am blessed to be assigned here.
The parish office will be closed Thursday and Friday.
Next Sunday marks the beginning of Advent. Advent can seem like a very conflicted time. Once Thanksgiving is over, our culture tells us to speed up our lives, decorate, shop, and celebrate Christmas. The Church tells us that we need to slow down and reflect in order to prepare for Christmas. Advent should be a time of extra prayer, a time for confession, and a time for quiet.
