From the Desk of Father Jason - December 14, 2025

Dear Saint Francis Xavier Parishioners,

Happy Third Sunday of Advent! Happy Gaudete Sunday!

This weekend is all about rose. Rose colored candle. Rose colored vestments. It is a reminder that we are almost done with the season of Advent. It also marks a change in what we are waiting for. Before Gaudete Sunday, we had been focused on the Second Coming of Christ in glory at the end of time. Now, we look forward to his First Coming on Christmas quietly in the stable of Bethlehem.

How are we going to rejoice this Christmas? Perhaps it is a time to get together with family and friends. It might be a time for feasting. Often, it is a time for gifts, given and received.

I am thankful that I am able to celebrate these things. After Masses on Christmas Day, I go to visit my mother’s apartment with the rest of my family. We have a sumptuous meal and exchange gifts. It is good.

But what about those in our community that do not have these blessings? Advent and Christmas are definitely times to pray for the lonely, the hungry, and those without much in their lives.

Also, perhaps we can find it in our hearts to do something about it in a very practical way. I was very happy with our collection of items for the De Pere Christian Outreach Christmas Store. You are helping those without much to have a better Christmas. We had the Wall of Food several weeks ago and we continuously collect food for the hungry. You are helping the hungry to be fed. The lonely. I think of people in our care facilities, some of them related to us. Will we find time this season to visit them? Is there a friend in our lives without a place to go this Christmas? Perhaps we can invite them into our families. We can help the lonely.

Sincerely through Jesus,

Fr. Jason