Advent
With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, the start of Advent isn't too far away. As we speed into the holiday season, Advent can often be nudged to the periphery, despite the fact that Advent can have a profound effect on our attitude about Christmas. Advent is a time to concentrate on Mary, the mother of God. Sometimes we forget that Mary put her hopes, dreams, and aspirations on hold in order to answer God's call to be the mother of Jesus. Mary said "yes," and that changed her whole life. A question for us to ponder this Advent season: How many times have we put our plans aside and said "yes" to God's plan for us?
Forgiveness is never easy, yet it begins with recognizing we’ve been forgiven first. In this FatherSide Chat, Father Gene reflects on God’s gift of mercy and how we can extend that same grace to others in everyday life.
Father Gene reflects on the challenge and gift of living fully in the present. Rather than being weighed down by past regrets or future worries, he explores the daily practice of focusing on “now” through conversation, community, and gratitude.