Rejoice on this Gaudete Sunday and know that Jesus will soon be born to us! 

Reflections on the readings for the Third Sunday of Advent (December 16, 2018): ZEP 3:14-18; IS 12:2-3,4,5-6; PHIL 4:4-7; LK 3:10-18 

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God” (Philippians 4:4-6).

Mary continues to serve God in her appearances to His people – and draws us to Him

Reflections on the readings for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12, 2018): ZEC 2:14-17; or RV 11:19; 12:1-6; 10; JUDITH 13:18,19; LK 1:26-38 

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

Just a few days ago we honored the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary and recognized her dedication and special relationship with God from the first instant of her life.

What we need to remember as we follow Christ

Reflections on the readings for the Second Sunday of Advent (December 9, 2018): BAR 5:1-9; PS 126:1-2,2-3,4-5,6; PHIL 1:4-6,8-11; LK 3:1-6

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

The mission of St. John the Baptist in preparing the Jewish people for the coming of the Messiah is a key part of this season of Advent. 

Mary, conceived without sin, is our own dear mother as well as the mother of Christ

Reflections on the readings for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (December 8, 2018): GN 3:9-15,20; PS 98:1,2-3,3-4; EPH 1:3-6,11-12; LK 1:26-38

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

Belief in the Immaculate Conception of Mary was embraced by many of the faithful a thousand or more years before it was declared a dogma of the Church.

St. Francis Xavier introduced many in India, Japan and other nations in the east to faith in Jesus Christ

Reflections on the readings for the Memorial of St. Francis Xavier (December 3, 2018): IS 2:1-5; PS 122:1-2,3-4,4-5,6-7,8-9; MT 8:5-11 

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

Today we salute a patron of Catholic missions: St. Francis Xavier.

Let us thank our Lord for coming among us as our loving Redeemer and as our just Judge

Reflections on the readings for the First Sunday of Advent (December 2, 2018): JER 33:14-16; PS 25:4-5,8-9,10,14; 1 THES 3:12 – 4:2; LK 21:25-28,34-36 

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

On this first Sunday of Advent, we note that the word adventus is Latin for coming. 

The first-called of the Twelve walked in the footsteps of the Lord – even to his own cross

Reflections on the readings for the Feast of St. Andrew (November 30, 2018): ROM 10:9-18; PS 19:8,9,10,11; MT 4:18-22 

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

On this day as we honor St. Andrew, we recall the Apostle that the Eastern Church has long known as the “first-called.”

“Then are You a King?” – Pilate could not accept the Truth Who looked him in the face 

Reflections on the readings for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (November 25, 2018): DN 7:13-14;PS 93:1-2,5; RV 1:5-8; JN 18:33-37 

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

Today we celebrate the feast established by Pope Pius XI in 1925 in honor of Christ the King.

The gift of Thanksgiving – for today and for eternity – belongs to God 

Reflections on the readings for Thanksgiving Day (November 22, 2018): SIR 50:22-24; PS 145:2-3,4-5,6-7,8-9,10-11; 1 COR 1:3-9; LK 17:11-19 

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

On this Thanksgiving, we celebrate the U.S. tradition of a day to express gratitude to Almighty God for His blessings. 

Mary spent her whole life serving God and invites us to do the same 

Reflections on the readings for the Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Ordinary Time (November 21, 2018): RV 4:1-11; PS 150:1-2,3-4,5-6; LK 19:11-28

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

This feast honoring the Presentation of Mary as a little child was first popular in the eastern Church, but became a universal observance in the 16th century.