VOL Parish Weekly Bulletin November 30, 2014

Pastoral Center Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Closed Noon - 1:00 p.m. Phone: 504-347-2203 Fax: 504-347-2223 Website: www.vol.org Visitation of Our Lady Church Religious Education Director of Religious Ed., Mrs. Jenny Doskey Phone: 504-341-8477 CCD Classes begin in September RCIA Classes (Adults) begin in August Mass Schedule 3500 Ames Blvd. Marrero, La. November 30, 2014 Saturday Vigil 5 p.m. Sunday 8 a.m., 10 a.m., Noon & 7 p.m. Mon.- Fri. 7 a.m. & 8:30 a.m. Visitation School Principal, Mrs. Carolyn Levet, M.Ed. 3520 Ames Blvd. Phone: 504-347-3377 Grades Pre-K3 through 8th Bulletin insert deadlines Ten working days prior to printing. Contact Parish Secretary Parishioners who are ill or shut-in Contact the Pastoral Center for home visits or Holy Communion Sacrament of Penance Held 30 minutes before each weekend Mass or by appointment. Sacrament of Marriage Couples should make an appointment with one of the parish priests at least 6 months in advance. Sacrament of the Sick (Anointing) By appointment only. Contact the Pastoral Center. Pastoral Center Staff Very Rev. Michael Kettenring, V.F. Pastor Fr. Daniel Green Parochial Vicar James Rooney Jim Venturella Deacons Mrs. Tiffany Harper Office Manager Mrs. Christie Bourg Director of Ministries Mrs. Kelli Bourgeois Parish Secretary First Sunday of Advent Today is the First Sunday of Advent, which is the beginning of a new church year. Advent (meaning “coming”) is a season of the Catholic church, the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. There are always four Sundays in Advent. The first week of Advent has to do with “expectation.” When you expect something to happen, you wait for it to happen. We are waiting for Christ to come to us at Christmas. Could we have Christmas without Christ? Of course not! It is only because of Chr ist that we have Christmas at all. Since we know the exact time of his coming, we know how much time we have to prepare for him. When we have company coming over, we don’t wait until the last minute to prepare everything. We should work the same way in preparing our hearts and souls for Jesus by working on becoming better people each day until he arrives. That way we’ll be ready for him when he comes. The first purple candle is called the prophet’s candle and is meant to signify the hope of Jesus’ coming. Light one purple candle each night during this week. Gather as a family and say special prayers from the Advent calendar or discuss the Bible readings for the day. The circular wreath represents God’s eternity and unity. Evergreens are a symbol of enduring life.