Would you believe that this post was mostly composed this time last week? In a fit of productivity, I managed to put together my bulletin insert (in both English and Spanish, mind you!) and gather all of the anniversaries, necrology, and week’s saint trivia. In my head, I had the audacity to think “I’ll have plenty of opportunity to get a little reflection together and post this early in the week!”

Somewhere in eternity, the Lord laughed heartily.

As you have probably guessed, this week has been a wild one. It didn’t start out that way! My family came on Sunday for my birthday (for a year, my age is the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everthing). Within our parish family, there is a policy for all employees that they get an extra paid day off to celebrate their birthday, so I had a luxurious two (!) days off this week. Lots of sleep & reading to kick off the week. Re-entry into parish life, however, more than made up for things and it has pretty much been non-stop until now…. 9:30 pm on the last day of the week!

You could be forgiven for assuming that this is me complaining, but the opposite is true. This week was wonderful! I got to have dinner at two different parishioner’s homes – both ending fairly late into the evening with plenty of camradrie (and wonderful food!). Two emergency calls came through our (wonderfully functional) emergency line and I was able to offer last rites to both Catholics, praying with the family present at one and commiserating with the family member of the other, who lives far away and wanted to be sure her loved one received the sacraments.

In the office, we had a staff birthday party celebrating four birthdays (current and upcoming). Throughout the week there has been a regular flow of carrot cake, Costco cake, and ice cream into the mouths of many! Those who came in were greeted with extra cheer – and perhaps slightly sugar-energized conversation. In parish ministry, we kicked off our central region Advent confession schedule (Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 5 pm to 6 pm – see the bulletin for details). And of course, we had our regular daily Masses, before/after Mass conversations, and general day-to-day parish life going on.

I often hear people say that they “don’t want to bother Father” – usually out of some concern that their priest is already so busy and that they would be a burden. And on one hand, I greatly appreciate the care & consideration this reflects. But the truth is, the list of things needing done is always growing. Just when I think I’ve checked off the last project on my (geeky) to-do list, another two or three need to be added on. Though it’s been a while since I’ve read it, the signature admonition of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy might as well be a ministerial guideline; panicking about what needs done – or what hasn’t been done yet – isn’t worth it.

Though I often have to defer to a future time or even say ‘no’ to some things, the heart of parish ministry is interacting with the people of the parish. This week’s busy-ness was good precisely because it involved so many interactions (some planned, others not so much) with folks looking for a little bit of time from their priest. Though it might mean the occasional delay in what I hoped to get done, its exactly the kind of ministry I hope for. Since this has the all the earmarks of a homily, I wrap it up with an admonition: bother Father! Ours is a ministry of interruptions, and it is a joy to minister to and with you.

December 1 – Happy new year! Today we celebrate the first Sunday of Advent and the beginning of the new liturgical year. The liturgical vestments & decorations in each church will change to violet and most communities will set up an Advent wreath with three violet candles and one rose candle. These wreaths will be blessed over the weekend and the first violet candle lit. Our Masses will be celebrated with a touch of simplicity – the Gloria is omitted and floral decorations & music are moderated to match this season of penitence and preparation. Though there is a sense of joyful anticipation, we move a little more somberly as we consider the great gift of the incarnation of the Word. Elizabeth Scalia has a lovely reflection on the point of Advent over at Our Sunday Visitor.

December 3 – Today is the memorial of Saint Francis Xavier. A member of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), he was the first missionary of the order. Convinced by Saint Ignatius of Loyola himself to consider priesthood, they were ordained together in Rome. Though Francis stayed in Rome for a time, he eventually joined the new order that Loyola received permission to form. In the course of approving the new order, the pope asked two of the four founding members to go to India – when one of them took ill, Xavier took his place. He spent most of the rest of his life in missionary work, dying in China on December 3 (1552), which would later become his feast day. Read more about him at the global Jesuit website.

December 4 – It seems especially appropriate that the today’s saint, Saint John Damascene, is depicted via iconography. In the 8th century during an iconoclastic controversy, the emperor ordered the destruction of sacred images throughout the empire. Saint John rose in defense of sacred images and wrote not one but three treatises on images of God and how God Himself used the material world to reveal Himself, especially in the incarnation. Read more at the Vatican News website.

December 6 –  This time of year, one of the questions I often receive from children is “do you believe in Santa Claus?”. The short answer is yes, though the long answer is rooted in today’s saint: Saint Nicholas. The real man behind the secular image is truly impressive – the stories of his generosity (especially of his gifts saving three young girls from being sold into slavery by their father) are the source of much of our gift-giving practices today. Read all about him at the Saint Nicholas Center website.

December 7 –  The last saint of this week is Saint Ambrose. A fiery character during the fourth century, he was known to fervently proclaim the Gospel to ordinary and royal persons alike. When Empress Justina attempted to seize two cathedrals to give to the Arians, Ambrose dared her eunichs to execute him. He publicly admonised Emperor Theodosius for his killing of thousands of innocents. Yet the same man also spoke so well and with such faith that he was instrumental in the conversion of  Saint Augustine. Read more about him at uCatholic.