Father Hathaway’s Column — December 3, 2023

AN UPCOMING BLESSING FOR OUR NEW BASILICA SCHOOL

Next Friday, December 8, Bishop Burbidge will celebrate Mass with the Basilica School of Saint Mary community – we have 742 students in pre-K through grade 8 – and will formally bless our wonderful new Saint James library media center and additional renovated facilities.

Thank you to everyone who have made this day possible by contributing to our Mary Lead Us Campaign, helping us expand the learning opportunities available for our children and enhancing the legacy of Catholic education. We still have a $785,000 funding gap. You can help us close that gap at https://membership.faithdirect.net/givenow/VA713/41467.

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Today, Sunday, December 3, is the First Sunday of Advent, a four-week season of hopeful longing, joyful expectation and prayerful penance. Advent connects us spiritually with God’s plan of redemption through Jesus Christ as we prepare for His coming as an infant at Christmas and His Coming as our Redeemer at the end of time. A popular Advent tradition is the Advent wreath, typically a circle of evergreen with four candles. The first candle is lit on the

First Sunday of Advent as we pray or reflect on Sacred Scripture. The other candles are lit on the following Sundays. Three candles are usually violet, symbolizing the prayer, penance, preparatory sacrifices and good works we should undertake during Advent. One candle is rose-colored and is lit on the Third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday (December 17 this year), a day of rejoicing as the birth of Christ draws near. We will bless and light our Basilica Advent wreath at Mass this weekend. In your home, an Advent wreath can be blessed by a parent or other family member. Find prayers for blessing your wreath at https://www.usccb.org/prayers/blessing-advent-wreath.

CHRISTMAS BASKETS

Our 2023 Christmas Dinner Basket Program is a great way for you and your family to share the blessings of Christmas with others. Ways to help include:

• SHOP – Purchase the complete list of items needed for a basket (see flyers at the back of the church or go to https://bit.ly/3sGXQNf for that list). Drop the items off at the Basilica’s Lyceum (313 Duke Street) on Friday, December 15, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• FILL – Arrange food baskets in the Lyceum on Friday, December 15, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• DELIVER – Deliver the filled baskets to residents within the City of Alexandria. Cars will line up at the Lyceum on Saturday, December 16, at 8 a.m., pick up and then deliver the baskets to families in our area.

Email christmasbaskets@stmaryoldtown.org if you would like to volunteer to pack or deliver baskets. Thank you for your help and generosity.

REMINDER: SIGN UP FOR 40 HOURS DEVOTION

If you haven’t already done so, be sure to sign up to spend an hour of peaceful prayer and meditation with Our Lord during our 40 Hours of Eucharistic Adoration, December 6 through 8. Click here to sign up.