 Advent is the season of Our Lady. During the first Advent, Mary carried the Christ-child next to her heart and waited in joyful expectation for His birth.
 Let us resume our document study of Pope St. John Paul II’s encyclical: Ecclesia de Eucharistia. In his Introduction the Holy Father expressed his intent of rekindling in the faithful our amazement at the gift of the Eucharist. In Chapter One was emphasized the presence of the entire Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ – Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity – in every Eucharistic consecration at Holy Mass. From this foundation St. John Paul II then looks to how the Eucharist “Builds the Church” and at its “Apostolicity”.
 It has been a long while since a Church Document study has been featured on our blog.
Throughout the Church here in America much attention has recently been redirected to Pope St. John Paul II’s last encyclical: Ecclesia de Eucharistia. Let us reflect on some of the highlights from this magnificent encyclical.  St. Bernard, Eureka, CA Our novices continue their reflections on the Eucharist and the priesthood each Thursday in August in light of their recent pilgrimage to many of the churches in our diocese.
 Vietnamese Martyrs Mission, Santa Rosa, CA Our novices continue their reflections on the Eucharist and the priesthood each Thursday in August in light of their recent pilgrimage to many of the churches in our diocese.
 With every new group of young women who enter our community, there is an opportunity given to them to better know the diocese in which they will live and serve. This program in our formation process is called our “Diocesan Church Tour Experience”. On it, novices are given the chance to visit several of our diocesan churches to learn about our local history, and to pray in a spirit of thanksgiving for all the good God has done in our parish communities, especially through our priests.
 On June 26, several of the Sisters had the great privilege and joy of attending the solemn consecration of Cardinal Newman High School’s new chapel! Bishop Robert Vasa celebrated the Mass, with several priests of the diocese concelebrating. In attendance were various families and individuals connected with the school and the building of the new chapel. For most of them - as for several of the Sisters - this was the first consecration of a church that they had ever witnessed! The Church provides her children with a beautiful liturgy for such a sacred occasion, and the Sisters were blessed to assist by singing for Holy Mass. Some highlights of the liturgy include: the anointing of the altar and chapel walls with chrism oil, the lighting of incense on the altar, the dressing of the altar with liturgical linens, and the lighting of candles on both the altar and the walls of the chapel. Men and women, old and young, clergy, religious, and laity were all present for this sacred and beautiful liturgy, the first of many that will be held in the new chapel. It was a truly wonderful event, and we were very glad to witness to our charism of living the fullness of the Church’s liturgical life with so many of the faithful!  "As for you, dearest sons and daughters, pray for your Priests,
that the Lord may pour out His gifts abundantly upon them, and keep them faithful as ministers of Christ, the High Priest, so that they may lead you to Him, who is the source of salvation." Exhortation of the faithful during the Renewal of Priestly Promises in the Chrism Mass  As we near the end of Advent, Holy Mother Church once again gives us the beautiful and beloved "O" Antiphons. At every Vespers (Evening Prayer), an antiphon is prayed before and after the Canticle of Mary which changes throughout the year according to the season and day. In the seven days leading up to Christmas, these antiphons are particularly unique and profound. Each antiphon begins by addressing Our Lord by a different title, referencing a way that His coming fulfills both the Old Testament prophecies and our present needs. They all begin with the word "O" and then continue with the title and text of the day, such as in the first: "O Wisdom of our God Most High..."
 Photo Credit: Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P. The solemn announcement, spoken of by the prophet, has been proclaimed in Sion: the solemn fast of Lent, the season of expiation, the approach of the great anniversaries of our Redemption. Let us, then, rouse ourselves, and prepare for the spiritual combat.
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