Images from St. Stephen's Mass

December 26: Mass of St. Stephen Protomartyr

Carlo Crivelli (c. 1435 – c. 1495)
Saint Stephen with three stones and the martyrs' palm.

Thursday, December 26, 10:00 (AM)

SUNG TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS

for the Feast of St. Stephen Protomartyr

Celebrant: Rev. Fr. Gregory Eichman, F.S.S.P.

St. John of the Cross Catholic Church

8086 Broadway

Lemon Grove, CA 91945

Please come and join us on St. Stephen's Day (December 26), at 10 in the morning, at St. John of the Cross in Lemon Grove. Fr. Eichman will celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass and the brothers will serve at the altar and sing Gregorian chants for the ordinary and propers. A very Happy Christmas to all our friends and benefactors!

Advent Reflections - The Fourth Week of Advent: Come, Lord Jesus

The Concert of Angels [detail] ~ 1534-1536
Fresco by Gaudenzio Ferrari

Continuation from the 2006 EWTN program series... 

The Fourth Week of Advent: Come, Lord Jesus 
Host - Fr. Ronald Creighton-Jobe, Cong. Orat. (Father Prefect of the Brothers)

Listen here: Link to EWTN mp3 program (please excuse the intermittent gaps of silence in the original programming to allow for commercial spots)

Fr. Creighton-Jobe describes the redemption Christ came to bring to his people on Earth as the unbounded action of a personal God who created human beings out of love and for love. The glory of God is man “fully alive,” that is, acting on his capacity to respond, giving a fitting return to God’s love.

Images of Vespers of Gaudete Sunday 2013

Advent Reflections - The Third Week of Advent: Mary, the Mother of God

Sandro Botticelli
Madonna of the Magnificat, c. 1481

Continuation from the 2006 EWTN program series... 

The Third Week of Advent: Mary, the Mother of God 
Host - Fr. Ronald Creighton-Jobe, Cong. Orat. (Father Prefect of the Brothers)

Listen here: Link to EWTN mp3 program (please excuse the intermittent gaps of silence in the original programming to allow for commercial spots)

Fr. Creighton-Jobe singles out the Mother of Jesus as a disciple of Christ who led a contemplative life, pondering her Son’s actions for their redemptive meaning for all humanity. Mary gives praise to God as the author of salvation and the source of all grace. She exemplifies Christ’s way of service as the means of gaining grace for all.

Advent Reflections - The Second Week of Advent: The Baptist Announces the Christ

Continuation from the 2006 EWTN program series... 

The Second Week of Advent: The Baptist Announces the Christ 
Host - Fr. Ronald Creighton-Jobe, Cong. Orat. (Father Prefect of the Brothers)

Listen here: Link to EWTN mp3 program (please excuse the intermittent gaps of silence in the original programming to allow for commercial spots)

Fr. Creighton-Jobe speaks of the longing of the Hebrew people for the fulfillment of redemption only the Messiah could bring. John the Baptist, last of the Old Testament prophets, declares the way to restore the relationship of friendship with God is by repentance and baptism. Christ then assimilates John’s work into his own, allowing people to share in his divine life.

December 15: Vespers of the 3rd Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday)

Giotto di Bondone (b. 1267, Vespignano, d. 1337, Firenze)
The Visitation

Sunday, December 15, 15:00 (3:00 PM)

 Vespers of the 3rd Sunday of Advent
with Benediction

Hebdomadary: Rev. Fr. Eugene Sta.Ana

St. Vincent de Paul Church

4080 Hawk Street

San Diego, CA 92103 

Join us at St. Vincent de Paul church to celebrate  Vespers of Gaudete Sunday in Gregorian chant! The 3rd Sunday of Advent is thus named after the first word in the Epistle's reading, where St. Paul recommends we should Rejoice in the Lord always. Advent is an intense liturgical season of joyful  penance and preparation not only to celebrate Christmas, the birth in the flesh of the eternal Word of God, but also to look forward to His second coming at the end of times. The more festive character of Gaudete Sunday  is made visible by the celebrant wearing rose vestments, instead of purple.

Advent reflections - The First Week of Advent: The Light of Christ

From 2006 EWTN program series

The First Week of Advent: The Light of Christ: listen here
Host - Fr. Ronald Creighton-Jobe, Cong. Orat. (Father Prefect of the Brothers)

Fr. Creighton-Jobe describes the coming of Christ in history in terms of a light of revelation, hope to a people set apart as God’s own. The Oratorian priest recalls God’s timely provision for his people’s greatest needs in the Old Testament as signs of hope completely fulfilled in Christ the Messiah.