As Christmas approaches and as the pandemic seems to be easing, people are looking to get back to “normal.” Many are looking forward to Christmas parties and gift-giving. They are venturing into stores to buy gifts, or they are ordering them online, perhaps as never before.

That’s the beauty of Advent. No matter what we do to prepare, no matter what we take on for these weeks leading up to Christmas, Jesus awaits us.

Luckily, there is no calorie-counting in blogs posted during Thanksgiving week because this post is packed with treats.

Here are some of the charged topics you might have to navigate during Thanksgiving dinner.

Father Doyle fields a question about the marriage of Mary and Joseph. He also discusses attending same-sex weddings.

If we can get back to the realization that Advent is fruitful because we have four weeks set aside to focus on hope in God’s promises, peace in God’s plan, joy in God’s providence, and love of the Lord and others, then maybe we’ll see it as gift of four weeks to slowly prepare for Jesus instead of a competition of liturgical living activities to complete.

If we can get back to the realization that Advent is fruitful because we have four weeks set aside to focus on hope in God’s promises, peace in God’s plan, joy in God’s providence, and love of the Lord and others, then maybe we’ll see it as gift of four weeks to slowly prepare for Jesus instead of a competition of liturgical living activities to complete.

Mary lived virtuously by adoring her Creator, obeying his commands and serving her neighbors.

I hope your week went well. I’m looking back on ours and sharing 7 Quick Takes. ~1~ The school week opened with concerns about a school bus driver strike. I tried to arrange my work schedule so I wouldn’t be far from our sons’ school in case they were stranded there and needed a ride […]

Father Doyle fields questions about dementia and the Eucharist, and the Nativity fast.