I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded by family and friends, filled with gratitude for the many blessings in our lives. As we transition from the warmth and joy of Thanksgiving into the reflective season of Advent, let us carry that spirit of gratitude forward, opening our hearts to the hope and stillness that this sacred time offers.

 

Happy Advent! As we light the first candle on our Advent wreaths this week, we are reminded that this sacred season is a time of reflection and preparation—a time to be still with God in prayer and ready our hearts for the coming of Christ.

 

Our parish theme this year, “Be still and know that I am God,” invites us to embrace the stillness of this season, even as the world around us buzzes with consumerism and busyness. Advent calls us to step away from the noise and chaos, much like a traveler who pauses at the edge of a rushing river to find a quiet cove where the water is calm. In the same way, we are invited to create moments of stillness in our lives, allowing God’s peace to flow through us.

 

To help you enter into the spirit of Advent, we are offering a special Advent Prayer Service Series on the first three Tuesdays of December: December 3rd, 10th, and 17th at 7pm. These evenings of reflection will be a time to slow down, counterbalance the busyness of the season, and explore simple, practical ways to deepen your prayer life.

 

During these evenings, we will explore Levels 2, 3, and 4 of prayer, offering practical steps and creative opportunities for you to create habits of stillness and prayer. Through gentle moments of creativity, fellowship, and reflection, we will practice resting in Christ and cultivating hope as we prepare for the joy of Christmas.

 

Advent is also a time for giving and caring for those in need. You will see our Giving Tree in the vestibule decorated with gift tags, ornaments and stockings. This gift drive provides a meaningful way to help our neighbors who are struggling to survive. Please consider taking part in this special tradition by providing gifts or support for families in need.

 

Next weekend, join us on Saturday, December 7th, for a wonderful evening of community, music, and joy as we celebrate together and prepare our hearts for the spirit of Christmas! The evening will include the outdoor tree lighting ceremony with Christmas lights and scenes provided by the Rivera family. Following that, we are hosting an amazing Christmas Concert “Hope for the Holidays” featuring John Angotti, Meredith Augustin, their talented band and our children’s choir with a reception before the concert. Invite your friends and family to join you and please RSVP for the reception so we can prepare. RSVP here.

 

This Sunday, I invite you to join us after the 9am Mass as we bless the new sliding doors in Spooncer Hall and enjoy coffee and donuts. This celebration is an opportunity to give thanks for community and to all who contributed to this project, especially the members of the Facilities Committee, 2023 Auction Committee and generous donors — thank you all for your support! Spooncer Hall is used in many ways each week from being a classroom, a place to serve hot lunch to our students, a meeting space for our ministries, and a gathering space for receptions, scouting troops and after school activities. It truly is a space of community and connection so let us gather in gratitude and joy for these wonderful blessings!

 

Finally, we are excited to again be a part of the Los Altos Festival of Lights Parade this Sunday evening in downtown Los Altos that starts at 6pm. Come out and cheer on the float for St. Simon and celebrate with our parish community. The Bolivar & Cardoza families will be providing glow sticks at a meeting point on State & 3rd Streets.

 

After all the weekend’s activities, please do try and take time during the week to pause, reflect, and prepare your heart for Christ’s birth. Together, let us remind one another to “be still” and anchor ourselves in the presence of God. I look forward to journeying through this Advent season with you.

God Bless,

Fr. Brendan