My First Noel (At Nativity of Our Lord)

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The solemn feast of the Nativity of Our Lord is upon us, my very first as pastor of Nativity of Our Lord.  

Celebrating the feast day which bears our name is a big deal, and it’s been my great pleasure to experience the rich and dynamic ways our community comes together to immerse ourselves in the seasons of Advent and Christmas! 

Beginning with our wreath and tree sales; then our outdoor market, food and clothing drive, and Giving Tree; the School liturgies and pageantry; and even the concerts we host, we do it right around here.

It all culminates with our Reconciliation liturgy this past week, followed by the 4th Sunday of Advent, and then finally the main event, our patronal feast day: the Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord, celebrated in grand fashion thanks to our clergy, staff, volunteers, and worshipers beginning this Sunday afternoon.  

All the extra lights, sights, smells, and bells are certainly fitting for our namesake and one of the two highest feasts on the Church calendar. 

But it’s not just for show: indeed Our Lord and Savior wants “God and sinners reconciled” particularly on this day, and in particular for this parish community in St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.A.

In fact, attending the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at Nativity on our patronal feast day avails us of a plenary indulgence, a powerful gift from the Church to free us from the lingering aftermath of our sins so that we are better and more fully able to unite our hearts with His.

So please do make plans to join us, if you haven’t yet, for Christmas Mass, in addition to the 4th Sunday of Advent. It’s much more than just an obligation. It is a gift from God to shower us with love and grace (x2!), and an opportunity to draw near to the One who drew near to us — in the flesh — just over 2,000 years ago. 

As our Advent longing turns to Christmas joy, may God bless you and your families ever more abundantly.

Fr. Rolf Tollefson, Pastor of Nativity of Our Lord

-

A version of this column is published in the December 24, 2023 Sunday bulletin