Advent

Emmanuel: Welcoming God with Us into the Heart of Advent

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Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

A reflection on the Gospel of Matthew 1:18-24

My friends, as we continue our journey through Advent, the Church invites us to look deeply at what it means to welcome Christ into our homes and our hearts right here and right now. Advent isn’t simply a time of waiting; it’s a season of recognizing that God is with us, even before the manger, and even in the messy and mysterious corners of our lives.

Let me begin with a story about a man named Jared. Maybe some of you can relate. Jared never thought of himself as a “church guy,” let alone someone who mentors children. He kept his life tidy and God at a respectful distance — present, but not too close. But when a friend asked him to become part of the “Big Brother” program as a mentor to Marcus, a quiet twelve-year-old whose father wasn’t around, Jared’s first instinct was to say no. He wasn’t good with kids, and his own childhood wounds still hurt. Despite his hesitation, he said yes.

Their first meetings were awkward and silent. Jared wondered if he was wasting anyone’s time. But gradually, things shifted. They fixed bikes together, swapped jokes, and looked at books about dinosaurs; and one evening, Marcus looked up at him and asked, “Why do you care?” Jared answered honestly: “I needed someone once too. And I think God cares, even when it’s hard to feel it.”

By stepping out of his comfort zone, Jared discovered something remarkable — Marcus found steadiness and friendship, and Jared’s own heart began to heal. Through his willingness to show up, with all his doubts, both Jared and Marcus were changed. God was with them — present in every hesitant step, every awkward pause, and every act of uncertain kindness.

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Rejoicing in Hope: Welcoming Christ with Patience in Our Waiting

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Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

Reflection on the Gospel of Matthew 11:2-11

Today, I want to share with you not just a message, but a story. It’s a story that could belong to any of us. It’s the story of James, a husband and father of three whose life was upended just days before Christmas. For sixteen years, James worked at a factory, building a future for his family. Two days before what should have been a season of joy, his company announced layoffs. Just like that, he was out of a job, his last paycheck barely enough to cover the rent. He watched the lights go up in his neighbors’ windows and heard families sing and celebrate, but instead felt the heavy shroud of anxiety and sadness descend on his home.

Waiting in the Dark: When Advent Feels Heavy Instead of Hopeful

James tried to stay brave for his wife, Amy, and their children: twelve-year-old Allie, who grew serious and careful almost overnight; eight-year-old Ben, still stubborn enough to believe in Christmas magic; and little Sophie, who just wanted her father to smile. But at night, James would lie awake, staring into the darkness, wondering how to say there would be no gifts, not even a tree. He felt a different kind of emptiness, a pressure he’d never known before, questioning not just his future but God’s presence.

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Gaudete Sunday: Joy in the Nearness of Christ

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There’s a moment in every long race when everything quietly changes.

You’re not finished yet. You’re still tired. Your legs still hurt. But you know something important. You’ve passed the halfway point.

In high school, I ran cross country. Most of our races were 5Ks, and every course had landmarks, trees, hills, and turns that helped you pace yourself. The midpoint was one of those silent checkpoints. You didn’t suddenly feel great. You weren’t magically faster. But hope crept in. You could see the finish line, not clearly and not fully, but you knew it was coming.

That’s Gaudete Sunday.

The penultimate Sunday of Advent is the turning point. The preparation is still needed and the waiting continues. But the Church, like a good coach, leans in and says: you’re past the halfway mark. Keep going. Rejoice.

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The Joy of Anticipation: A Catholic Reflection for Advent

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By: Elisabeth Williams

Preparing the Way of the Lord

Each year, as Thanksgiving dishes are barely cleared and Black Friday sales flood our inboxes, the season of Advent quietly arrives. It doesn’t shout. It doesn’t demand. Rather, it simply invites: “Prepare the way of the Lord.”

For years in our family, this meant going to every holiday function, dragging the kids around the city to make memories while also losing sleep hoping that we checked off everything on their Christmas activity wish list. It was imperative to arrive early enough to get seats at their Christmas pageants, to complete the Jesse Tree, and read from scripture nightly. It was tiring, overwhelming, and left the kids and us cranky and too tired to celebrate the actual Octave of Christmas when it finally arrived.

More recently, Advent has become less about checking off traditions like parties, LEGO calendars, and candy-filled shoes and more about listening. What is Christ asking of me in the waiting? How can I make space in my home and in my heart for Him? And is it possible for me to offer that simple invitation to others as well?

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Preparing the Heart for Christmas: Welcoming Jesus, Bearing Good Fruit 

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Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

Reflection on the Gospel of Matthew 3:1-12 

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, 

As Advent unfolds before us, we’re handed an invitation—not just to more lists, more shopping, or more frantic hustle, but to something riskier and far more honest. Let’s take a glimpse at someone in our own midst—a woman like Samantha, perhaps someone you know, perhaps someone a little like you. 

Every year, Samantha mapped out her perfect Christmas with military precision: menus, presents, decorations, endless lists promising a season that would finally feel right. And every year, as she sat among the torn wrapping paper and cold leftovers, a hollow ache settled in. “Hollowed out by the holidays,” she joked. But beneath that joke—loneliness, disappointment, a hunger for something real. 

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Why Saint Nick’s Day is Awesome— Celebrating Generosity with the Ultimate Catholic Meme Collection

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G.K. Chesterton once wrote, “It is the test of a good religion whether you can joke about it.”

I certainly think that he would have (and hopefully you will) chuckle at the following joke:What do you call Santa when he has no money? Saint ‘Nickel-less’.

Today is Saint Nicholas of Myra’s Feast Day. It’s also the greatest Catholic meme day of the year. 🙂🥊👊

Thinking about Saint Nicholas (aka Santa Claus, yes he is real and I still believe in him. 🎅 🙏 🙂) puts me in a jolly mood and sparks one of the greatest gifts God has given me— my creativity.

Enjoy this Ultimate Saint Nick Meme Collection.

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The Heart of Advent: Staying Awake and Ready for Jesus’ Arrival 

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Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

A reflection on the Gospel of Matthew 24:37-44 

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, 

Today I want to share with you the story of my best friend, Mark—a man who, like many of us, always considered himself a person of faith. Mark was faithful to Mass, devoted to service, and kept his rosary close by. Then came that dreadful day: his company downsized, and he lost his job. Suddenly, his world was turned upside down. 

Job hunting became his entire focus. Mark poured over online applications, crafted cover letters, hustled every hour of the day, skipping meals, and convincing himself that Sundays were too precious to spend at church. “I’ll pray later,” he thought. “Right now, I have to work.” Sound familiar? Life’s uncertain moments can shake us, and when our routine is upended, it’s all too easy to assume we’ll come back to God—once life is less complicated. 

But weeks of rejection wore Mark down. His faith felt distant; his hope, almost gone. It took a caring friend from church to reach out, listen, and gently remind Mark that we need God most when we feel out of control—not because God will solve our troubles instantly, but because He promises to walk with us through them. Jesus calls us to “stay awake”—not to let worry, fear, or busyness blanket our faith. 

That very night, Mark picked up his rosary, dusted off his prayer life, and asked not for a job, but for peace. The next day he went back to Mass. Being there, he noticed something different—something softer and clearer in the choir’s song, something opening up inside himself. In the weeks that followed, Mark rebuilt his rhythm of prayer, reconnected with his community, and felt his anxiety begin to loosen its grip. 

A new job eventually came, through a connection he made at church—one he’d have missed if he’d stayed isolated. But looking back, Mark realized that the real transformation wasn’t finding work. It was learning to stay awake to God’s presence, preparing his heart for Jesus’ arrival in ways he’d almost overlooked. And it made all the difference. 

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