Dear members and friends of the Sodality of Charity,
Thank you to all Sodalists and their family members who joined us in prayer at Gate of Heaven, St. Stephen’s, and St. Malachy’s cemeteries in the month of November. God will reward your charity for the poor souls.
The Sodalists also showed charity for the living when Mrs. Simpson showed them how to make chicken pot pies. One of the pies was reserved for the clergy and it tasted delicious! Early in the month one of the Sodalists cooked the priests a full meal, which consisted of chicken divan with mashed potatoes, and a giant chocolate cake.
I said Mass for all the Sodality members on November 22, the feast of St. Cecilia.
We have one more major event this year, our annual St. Lucia procession on Gaudete Sunday, December 17. On that day there’s also the St. Gertrude the Great school’s Advent Bake Sale in Helfta Hall, and you can support the school by baking things for the sale or buying them. And keep in mind our Sodality Christmas party, which will be on Saturday, January 13, 2024.
Please say prayers of thanksgiving for Mrs. Colleen Klabenes, née Eldracher, who married Patrick Klabenes on November 11. Mrs. Klabenes made the Lucia crown of candles for our first St. Lucia procession in 2020, which we still use today. She has done so much good for St. Gertrude’s in the school, sacristy, and at the Young Adult Get-Together. She now lives in Nebraska.
November 30, the feast of St. Andrew, is the 30th anniversary of the consecration of Bishop Dolan, so say a little prayer for the repose of his soul. That day is also the first anniversary of the consecration of Bp. Germán Fliess, and the 19th anniversary of the ordination of Fr. Saavedra, who used to help us here at SGG after his ordination.
On November 30 we begin the traditional Advent novena. Each day from November 30 until December 24 this prayer is said 15 times: “Hail and blessed be the hour and the moment in which the Son of God was born of the Most Pure Virgin Mary, at midnight in Bethlehem, in piercing cold! At that hour, vouchsafe, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my petitions through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.” The 15 prayers can be said either all at once or throughout the day. These 15 prayers are associated with the stairs that 3-year-old Mary ascended into the Temple on Her presentation.
For the start of Advent, I give you a nice tale about Our Lady of Altagracia, or Our Lady of Good Grace. She is honored in the Dominican Republic, and Her feast day is January 21 (which is my father’s birthday). The name “Altagracia,” or “Tatica” for short, was given to all children born on a Saturday or any day in January, whether boy or girl. Have a blessed Advent season.
Yours in Christ and Mary,
