Welcome in the cold dark night

Much like the Babylonian god Enlil who destroyed the world in a flood because humans were just too noisy, we are led to believe that what the Grinch hates about Christmas is all the badooka banging. After all, he's put up with it for 53 years now. Is he 53 years old? Did he move there 53 years ago? Such matters do not seem to concern our scribe, the great Dr. Seuss. Only that he has put up with Christmas for more than half a century. And that all those presents are noisy. And so in an economical half hour of animation (ignoring the live action movie that blasphemes my childhood), the Grinch sets about getting rid of Christmas by getting rid of the stuff.

But is it really the noise interrupting his solitude that has gotten to him? Because he seems even more upset by the next step in the Whos' celebration - and that is when they get quiet. The feast of Who Pudding and Roast Beast. He can't stand that in the least, after all. Could it be that his small heart knows from the beginning it's not about the stuff? Could it be that he knows what it's truly about, and he sees himself cut off from that.

After all the Whos sing about it every year: "Welcome Christmas while we stand, heart to heart and hand in hand."

And that's the part that hurts about this year. We know it's not about the stuff. Not about the pink candle on the wreath, or the star on the tree. Not about the chocolate coins from St. Nick or the packages in shiny paper. We've been taught that by the Whos since at least 1966. And besides UPS would be happy to see that we get all the stuff that we want without leaving our Who Houses, contactless and free delivery.

It's the hand in hand part.

But I remember thinking even when I was a wee small child, what about the people who don't have hands? (I probably thought that because Cindy Lou Who doesn't appear to have feet and dangles between two relatives during the Who Christmas Song.) And that's where what we're waiting for comes in. That God who becomes flesh to join all of us who are flesh to each other.

Both Jesus and the prophets use that image of a feast to paint a picture of that day at the end of days when God takes away all that divides us. Even death itself. It is a feast that began in the life of Jesus himself and continues whenever we join together in his name. Whether we can join hands or not. And given the way that Covid cases are soaring, we would probably best celebrate this year by not joining hands with anybody we don't live with.

But heart to heart? That joining has always been in other hands than ours. And the One who joins hearts will make it true this year as every year. So the Whos were right after all, and so was Dr. Seuss.

"Christmas day will always be, just as long as we have we."

-Fr Lou

**Another opportunity to add ribbons to the SFR Advent Giving Tree: Everyone is invited to add ribbons for acts of kindness shown or received throughout the Advent season. Together let us appreciate the kindness in our lives! If you are unable to do so in person, call or email the office and the staff will hang them for you.**

During Advent and Christmas, St. Frances of Rome has historically embraced the spirit of giving each year for United Crescent Hill Ministries' (UCHM) “Christmas Connection” program through the Advent Giving Tree. This program is dedicated to ensuring that the children in our community are provided a cheerful and fulfilling holiday. However, with this unprecedented giving season, UCHM would like to keep everyone as safe as possible. So the “Christmas Connection” program will look a little different this year. Rather than fulfilling children’s wish lists by parishioners purchasing gifts themselves, they are asking St. Frances of Rome for preferable donations in the form of cash, check or preloaded gift cards. (The financial donations will be used by UCHM staff and volunteers to purchase $100 Target, Walmart, or Amazon gift cards and $25 Kroger gift cards, one for each child in a family. These gift cards will allow families to prioritize their needs, as well as give them the dignity of providing for their family in the best way that they see fit.)

If you are interested in donating or sponsoring a family, please use one of the following methods:

• Visit the UCHM “Christmas Connection Program” web page to donate directly: https://www.uchmlouky.org/christmas-connection-sponsorship-sign-up/ and select "Donate" to make your contribution.

• Donate cash, or a check (made out to”United Crescent Hill Ministries”).

• Or purchase a gift card from Target, Amazon, Visa or Walmart with the amount noted on the card. [Please enclose the cash, check or gift card in an envelope marked “UCHM Christmas Connection” and place it in the collection basket on Sundays or drop it off at the parish office during business hours.]

For each SFR gift received, a ribbon will be hung on the parish’s Advent “Christmas Connection” Giving Tree. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Suzann McGarvey, Parish Administrative Assistant at stfranrome@sfrlou.org or Sharon Coonan, Pastoral Associate at scoonan@sfrlou.org or call (502) 896-8401. Thank you in advance for your kindness and ongoing support of this Advent/Christmas parish outreach effort.

Mass Intentions

In Remembrance

Please pray for the repose of the souls of Betty Moore, a St. Frances of Rome parishioner, and Joella Schuster, from St. Leonard, who have both entered eternal life. We pray for the family and friends of both Betty and Joella as they remember their lives and mourn their loss.

College Student AMA Dec 15

College Kids! Check in with your friends from church and school, ask your tough questions, and get some decent answers with Andrew and Fr. Lou on Dec 15 @ 7pm. You've been in (or at least closer too) the real world this past year(s), and you've probably wrestled with what exactly we believe, what we stand for, and why. We'll be here to listen and share some of the stuff they didn't teach you in Confirmation class.

Ok- lets face it, there probably ain't no college kids getting this newsletter, much less reading it...

Parents of College Kids! Tell your kids that Andrew and Father Lou are doing an AMA (ask me anything) Dec 15 @ 7pm! If you have wonderful sweet faithful kids, tell them how wonderful and sweet we are too! If you have... other kids, challenge them to make us feel awkward and stump us!

It's gonna be on Zoom- Not Reddit (btw):

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87010845571?pwd=Y3VkRytkeE9ucFArbFNsN2lwTHN1UT09

Dedication and Devotion Unsurpassed!

Pocket Prayer Quilts were included in the Christmas cards mailed to each Saint Leonard Parish family last week, and the additional quilts will be given to the VA Hospital and senior care homes in our neighborhood. Thank you again to our dedicated and talented team of volunteers for such a lovely gift!

Last Week's Masses

Catch St. Leonard's Masses at 5pm on Saturday and 10am on Sunday, and St. Frances of Rome's Mass at 11:30am on Sunday on our respective Facebook pages.