St. Barbara Young Adults

I am a fan of James Martin. Here's his piece from Slate called "Hail Mary."

He starts:

It's tough to relate to someone who's supposed to be God's mom, isn't it?

Read the rest here.

December 24 - Christmas Eve

Organ, choir, and strings

Prelude music begins 30 minutes before Mass

5pm - Fr. John Vaughn and Br. Luis Guzman

Midnight - Fr. Richard McManus and Fr. Daniel Barica

December 25 - Christmas Day

Organ, choir, and brass

8am - Bishop Thomas Curry

10am (Family Mass) - Fr. Daniel Barica

12 Noon - Fr. John Vaughn

Friday, December 18, 6pm, Mission Church
Simbang Gabi Mass
This is a traditional Filipino Mass and will be followed by a reception.

Saturday, December 19, 5pm, Parish Social Room
Dessert Reception
Join with other young adults at this dessert reception. Bring goodies to share with the group. This will be followed by...

Saturday, December 19, 7pm
Christmas Carol Sing-Along and Blessing of the Creche, in front of the Mission

Tuesday - December 8
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception / Holy Day of Obligation
Masses are at 7:30am, 12 Noon, and 7pm in the Mission Church

Wednesday - December 9
Communal Reconciliation Service
7pm in the Mission Church
Come and prepare yourself for Christmas by celebrating God's forgiveness and love.

Saturday - December 12
Build the Christmas Creche
Starting at 8am in front of the church
To sign up please call the parish office at 682-4151

Sunday - December 13
Choral Service based on the O Antiphons
3pm in the Mission Church

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Nicholas of Myra. The Saint of the Day feature at Americancatholic.com describes his legendary charity:

Perhaps the best-known story about Nicholas concerns his charity toward a poor man who was unable to provide dowries for his three daughters of marriageable age. Rather than see them forced into prostitution, Nicholas secretly tossed a bag of gold through the poor man’s window on three separate occasions, thus enabling the daughters to be married. Over the centuries, this particular legend evolved into the custom of gift-giving on the saint’s feast. In the English-speaking countries, St. Nicholas became, by a twist of the tongue, Santa Claus—further expanding the example of generosity portrayed by this holy bishop.

May he serve as a model for us as we consider giving not only to our friends and relatives, but to all who are in need.

I just read an item on Lifehack called "10 Small Ways to Make the World a Better Place." The article says:

Here are ten little gestures, all of them easily within our grasp, that can spread goodwill in our own communities, as well as increase our own sense of mindfulness about the people around us and our relationship to them.

I would add "smile" to the list. Smiling and acknowledging someone you pass on a sidewalk or supermarket aisle makes the world a little friendlier.

Any thoughts? Do you have small ways of improving the world?