Today, within our church we celebrate the
beginning of a new liturgical year – the beginning of
Advent. Our church year is based on two significant events in Jesus’ life, his
birth which the church has set on December 25 and his resurrection which occurs
on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox. All
other seasons are based on these two dates. December 25 to the Baptism of our
Lord is Christmas. The fifty days from the Resurrection to Pentecost is Easter.
Forty days before Easter is Lent. Four weeks before Christmas is Advent. All
other times is Ordinary Time.
Our readings during the liturgical year
follow a three year cycle for Sundays. In year A, the Gospels are mostly from
Matthew, year B is mostly Mark, and year C is mostly Luke. This new liturgical
year we begin Year A. Our weekday readings follow a two year cycle, Year I and
Year II. In 2026 we are in Year II – easiest way to remember, even years are
Year II.
We begin the season of Advent, a time to
prepare to celebrate our Lord’s birth, a time to prepare for when ‘Christ will
come again.’ Do not get caught up in the secular celebration of Christmas, yes
that is christmas with a small ‘c’, because Christ is not part of their pagan
rituals. We will spend the next four weeks in solemn preparation awaiting our
Lord’s return.
In God's time, Father
Andrew
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DAILY REFLECTIONS FOR ADVENT
With Advent, the new Liturgical year
begins. A great way to begin the Liturgical year is to spend some time each day
in prayer and reflection on the meaning of Advent. To assist you with this, we
are providing daily reflections in a booklet for the Advent season. They can be
found at the entrances to the Church.
FOOD PANTRY
Especially during the Thanksgiving and
Christmas season, many need some help with groceries and other basic
necessities. We are teaming up with St. Jerome and Holy Redeemer Food Pantries
to help those in need. The pantries need toilet paper, paper towels, canned
tuna or chicken, canned meals (Beefaroni, Spaghetti, Lasagna) and ready to eat
soups (no tomato), Cans with pull tab tops are preferred, Starting next week
there will be bins at the entrances to the church for you to place your items
in, Monetary donations are also needed, make check payable to St Casimir and
place in an envelope marked “Food Pantry” and drop it in the collection basket
or at the rectory.
CHRISTMAS WAFERS
Traditional Christmas Wafers are available
at the main entrance to the church at Mass times. They are packaged is
envelopes of 2 and 3 wafers. The suggested donation is $1 for each wafer. Place
your donation in the envelope provided and place it in the donation box.
LITHUANIAN PENSIONERS
Thursday, December 4TH, our seniors are
invited to the Lithuanian Pensioners luncheon and monthly meeting at the
Lithuanian Club at 12:00noon.
CALENDARS
Our 2026 Church Calendars are now
available. We thank our friends and fellow parishioners at the Jakubs Funeral
Home for providing them this year. They are on the tables at the back of the
church.
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ADVENT VESPER SERVICE
St. Jerome Parish will host this year’s
Collinwood Cluster Advent Evening Prayer, on Monday, December 1, 2025, at 7:00
pm, It has been a tradition for the Collin-wood Parishes to begin the Advent
season together in prayer, All are invited to share an evening of praise, song
and benediction with this ancient prayer of the Church.
ADVENT PENANCE SERVICE
The Collinwood Cluster of Parishes will
celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation with a Penance Service at St. Mary’s
on Monday, December 15TH, at 7:00pm. All are invited to receive this sacrament
in preparation for the coming feast of Christmas.
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SPEND TIME WITH THE LORD
On the first Friday of every month after
7:30am Mass, Eucharist Adoration is held till 9:00am. Why not spend some time
with Our Lord this coming Friday, December 6th.. Come for the whole hour or
just a few minutes. Spending time in quiet prayer is a great way to grow in
your relationship with our Lord.
HOLY DAY
Monday, December 8TH is the Feast of the
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation.
Masses to fulfill this obligation here at St. Casimir’s will be on Monday at
7:30am and 7:00pm
ADULT EDUCATION WITH JACKIE
We have started a new liturgical year, but what does that mean? Join
Jackie Taylor at Hope House on Tuesday December 16th at 6:30 to learn more
about the Liturgical year and the season of Advent. Please note the change of
date for this month.
GIVING TREE
Our Holy Name Society is again sponsoring a Giving Tree to assist
parish families in need of a “little help” at Christmas. The tree is
now up by St. Casimir’s altar. Simply take an ornament or two or more,
purchase the gift cards, and return them either in the collection
basket, at the Rectory, or to a member of the Holy Name Society by
December 15th, Cards will be distributed to the needy before Christmas,
If you know of a family or an individual who may be in need of
assistance this Christmas season, please call the rectory and let
Jackie or Fr. Andrew know.
COFFEE SCHEDULE
Currently the 2026 Monthly After-11am Mass Coffee Social schedule is
being organized. Fr. Morkunas asks that organizations commit to hosting
these events every 2nd Sunday of the month coffee socials. The parish
provides the coffee and supplies. You would need to bring milk and
finger food or donuts, to put on the coffee, and then be the good host.
Printed guidelines will be provided. We await volunteers! Three
organizations have already committed, so additional volunteers are
needed starting in March. To volunteer, please contact any of the
following by December 15, 2025: Jackie Taylor jackie@
saintcasimirparish.org / 216-481-3157, Veronica Susnjara
440-944-3381, Ingrid Civinskas icivinsk@yahoo.com / 440-
838-0652. Parish Council will be responsible for the coffee and donuts
after the 8:30am Mass, unless an organization would be willing to host
it.
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Lietuvi