Rorate Caeli Masses In Honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Saturdays at 6:30am During Advent

This Advent Saint Philip Church will have Rorate Caeli Masses Saturdays, Dec. 3, 10, 17 and 24, at 6:30am. These Masses, offered only during Advent, are celebrated in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Traditionally they are celebrated at sunrise and are lit only by candlelight.

The Rorate Caeli Masses are celebrated to help us prepare for Christmas. Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ, for whom we wait in joyful hope. The world is mired in the darkness of sorrow and sin, and Christ brings to us the light of hope and mercy. In this way the light of Christ “dawns” on the world every Christmas, and on our hearts and minds every day.

This movement, from the darkness of sorrow and sin to the light of Christ, we see played out in a symbolic way when we attend a Rorate Caeli Mass. These Masses always begin before daybreak (in the dark), and during the Mass the only lights are the candles in the Church. Then, when the Mass ends, the sun is just beginning to rise.

We are having the Rorate Caeli Masses here at Saint Philip for two reasons: the first reason is that we, as a Parish, will give honor to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The second reason is that we can offer an additional daily Mass during Advent. Many people try to attend daily Mass during Advent. However, many of these same people cannot attend our normal morning Mass (at 8am) due to conflicting work schedules. The Rorate Caeli Masses this year begin at 6:30am. This earlier time for a daily Mass will hopefully allow people to both attend Mass and still have enough time to travel to work. See more informaiton here.

First Saturday Rosary Schedule Change

Please Note: Due to the Rorate Caeli Mass on December 3rd, the First Saturday Rosary start time will be shifted to begin after the 8am Mass, at approximately 8:40 am. All are welcome. The Rosary is based on St. Louis de Montfort’s method. If you would like to lead a decade, come 5 minutes prior to the start. In January we will return to the usual start time 7am on January 7, 2023.

Magnify Your Advent With First Friday Adoration

Come and spend some time in adoration with Our Lord and let him pour his love, grace and mercy over you as we begin the Advent Season! Adoration begins Friday, December 2, at 3pm and continues through the night, pausing briefly for the 7pm Friday Mass, until Benediction and Reposition prior to the 6:30am Rorate Caeli Mass Saturday morning. Signing up for a time slot ensures that someone is always present with Our Lord as he is exposed on the altar. Sign up here.

News and Notes
 

This Can Be Your "Best Advent/Christmas Ever" With Dynamic Catholic

Do you want to reclaim the peace that can only come from simplicity this Christmas? Dynamic Catholic is again offering its free “Best Advent Ever” series to help you appreciate and celebrate the season. You’ll receive short, inspiring videos in your inbox every morning to help you focus your day on what matters most. Sign up at dynamiccatholic.com/advent.

Try the #1 Catholic App Hallow App Free for 3 Months

St. Philip has partnered with Hallow this Advent to encourage all parishioners to prepare their heart this season by incorporating prayer into each day. This Advent, we’re inviting you to join Hallow’s #Pray25 Challenge: Journey through Salvation History featuring the cast of "The Chosen." 

Hallow is the #1 Catholic app worldwide and includes 1,000 prayer sessions available for free, and over 5,000 audio-guided sessions in an upgraded premium subscription. Hallow is designed to help you grow closer to God and develop a daily habit of prayer, and includes prayers for kids and families, resources for mental health, meditations for sleep, seasonal music, multiple languages (including Spanish, Portuguese, and Polish!) daily trivia, podcast-style courses to learn more about faith, and more! Hallow also has subscriber-exclusive content and you can try the paid version of the app for 3 months free by signing up at hallow.com/advent-3-month-trial.

Tabernacle Project Update

After much discussion and prayer, and with the full support and permission of Bishop Burbidge, we will be moving the Tabernacle to the center of the sanctuary. The Eucharist is at the heart of all that we do as a parish. We are looking forward to making Our Eucharistic Lord more visible to everyone in the sanctuary and giving Him the highest place of honor. Find updates on this project at stphilipsparish.com/Tabernacle

Children’s Adoration Time Tuesday, Nov. 29

A child-friendly Family Time of Adoration will be held in St. Philip Church on Tuesday starting at 3:30pm and ending at 4:15pm. All parishioners, in particular families of infants and small children, are invited to spend time with Our Eucharistic Lord. One of our priests will be present for the whole time to provide an age appropriate guided meditation to help the children adore the Lord. While this Adoration time is geared toward little/young children and their parents, anyone is welcome to adore the Eucharist during that time, including teenagers and their families. In keeping with our usual Tuesday afternoon schedule, starting at 4pm, another of our priests will be in the confessional to hear Confessions.

Help Refugees and Moms Through the St. Philip Giving Tree

St. Philip Giving Tree has arrived and is in the vestibule. Please plan to take an ornament to spread the love of Jesus to others who are less fortunate. The tree is filled with ornaments to help two charities. The first charity is Refugee and Migration Services of the Diocese of Arlington. All the items on the ornaments are also available at the Amazon Wishlist at https://a.co/3CwyIQ9. If it is helpful you can order the items from there to be sent directly to the Office of Refugee and Migration Services (listed as "MRS's Gift Registry Address" on the Amazon address list). Of course you can also bring the item to the vestibule or the rectory. The second charity is A Woman’s Choice, a pregnancy resource center providing support during and after pregnancy. Get your ornament and unwrapped gift back to the rectory or place it under the tree in the vestibule by December 18.

Food Pantry Needs

Don’t forget the Food Pantry when doing your grocery shopping. There is always need. In addition to food, currently we are in great need of reusable grocery bags. As a reminder, the Food Pantry is open for food distribution on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month starting at 8:30am. For more information, please email eac2427@gmail.com.