For several years the parish of St. Malachy has set aside approximately ten percent of their  monthly tithing designated to organizations who support lives of individuals and families who  are struggling. Their Social Justice Committee continues to meet with consideration toward  outreach opportunities, locally and outside of our Boone County. Parishioners have been  supportive of such advocacy, and the sharing of blessings in the Spirit of our Savior’s calling.  Last month Sacred Heart Church initiated a similar form of outreach (amidst of other parish  efforts to support organizations and individuals in need), with a portion of the dollar collection  earmarked for a different organization. Ten percent of the dollar collection (approximately $125)  was given to Birthright. With centers throughout the United States—including SAioux City and  Spencer—this organization supports mothers who are struggling in their pregnancy, their  motherhood, providing the outreach protecting the child in the womb and the spiritual, emotional  and financial needs of the mother. Our resources as a parish within Boone County may not be  lavish, we nonetheless have been blessed with to graciously share what we can, opening the door  of Christ Jesus’ face before another, and within ourselves. Again, thank you for your generosity. 
Advent is an all too brief period to prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ—the  Second Coming, our celebration of His birth on the 25th, and His renewed presence within our  hearts. A profound step of preparation—at any time—but especially during Advent is the  reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Within the activities, gatherings, gift sharing,  decorations and holiday songs, the reception of this Sacrament is the essence of Christ’s healing  and peace that brings forth the deeper meaning of Christmas. Our parish is offering Advent  Communal Reconciliation services this Sunday: 1:00 at Sacred Heart; 3:00 at St. Malachy, and  confessions before weekend Masses, (after the 10:00am Mass). As St. John Paul II reminds us,  “Confession is an act of honesty and courage – an act of entrusting ourselves, beyond sin, to the  mercy of a loving and forgiving God.” Mark Link, Jesuit author, offered this brief reflection  pertaining to this Sacrament:  
“Israel. . . .the Lord calls you back to him and says: ‘For one brief moment I left you; with deep  love I will take you back. . . .So says the Lord who saves you(Isaiah 54:6-8).”  During his baseball career, Babe Ruth drifted away from his faith. One night he was ill in a New  York hospital, and a friend suggested he make his peace with God. As a result, Ruth asked to see  a priest. After receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Ruth wrote: ‘As I lay in bed that  evening, I thought to myself what a comfortable feeling to be free from fear and worries. I could  simply turn them over to God.’  
Why is Advent a good time, especially, to seek God’s forgiveness for the sins of the past? “There’s a wideness in God’s mercy, like the wideness of the sea(Frederick William Faber).” December eighth is the Holy Day of Obligation, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Since  it lands on this Sunday, the second Sunday of Advent, the Church has moved this holy day to  Monday the ninth. Our Ascension Parish will have a Mass at each location on this Holy Day,  Mary’s Immaculate Conception: 9:15am at St. John’s; Noon at Sacred Heart; and 5:30pm at St.  Malachy.  
In light of this holy day recognizing our Blessed Mother’s extraordinary grace and faith may I  share another of Mark Link’s reflections from his series Praying Scripture In A Contemporary  Way: 
“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby moved with her. Elizabeth said in a loud  voice, ‘You are the most blessed of all women, and blessed the child you will bear(LK 1:41-42).”  A shabbily dressed man wandered into a church during a Mass for children. He sat down and  seemed to be asleep. After Mass the children sang a hymn in honor of Mary. The hymn ended  with these words: ‘Mother of Christ, Star of the Sea, pray for the wanderer, pray for me.’  Suddenly the man began sobbing. When someone went over to him, he said, ‘I’m all right! It’s  just that song. I haven’t heard it since I was a boy, and I haven’t been in a church for years.’  That hymn to Mary occasioned the return fo the man to his faith. Once again, Mary was a  source of grace.  
What role does the mother of Jesus play in my spiritual life? 
“Mary of Christ, Star of the Sea, pray for the wanderer, pray for me.” 
God Bless, Fr. Tim