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The fourth week of Advent will last exactly one day-- Sunday, Dec. 24th.
Sunday's Second Reading:
... according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed and through the prophetic writings is made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith...( Rom 16:25-27)
Being His Shepherds of These Times
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.An Angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.But the Angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.This will be a sign to you: You will find a Baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the Heavenly Host appeared with the Angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest Heaven, and on earth peace to men of good will. ”
When the Angels had left them and gone into Heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby, Who was lying in the manger.When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this Child,and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in Her heart.The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (Luke 2:8-20) ****
On that cold night over 2000 years ago, the shepherds saw and heard the unbelievable ---and yet they believed. An Angel told them that the Messiah---so anxiously awaited for centuries---was lying in a poor manger. Think of that: they believed that that little Baby was the MESSIAH, the SAVIOR, the SON OF GOD. What beautiful FAITH. How much consolation that must have given God and His Holy Family, that night and throughout the years. For tradition tells us that the shepherds' Faith never wavered. Just as they were before His Manger, so they were before His Cross.
Today in the terrible and cold night of our world's lack of faith, --those who without seeing yet believe, --those who offer Jesus their love, their trust-- are the shepherds who console Jesus today!
If you are His shepherd today, you can be sure that He is grateful for your child-like Faith and your grown-up Love.
December 22, 2023 Mission of Divine Mercy
CHRISTMASTIDE SCHEDULE
Sunday Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve
Mass for Sunday - 10:00am
Christmas Vigil Mass - 9:00pm
Monday, Dec. 25 - Christmas Day
Shepherds' Mass - 9:00am (Quiet Mass with no choir)
Saturday, Dec. 30 Mass - 8:00am Sunday, Dec. 31 - New Year's Eve
Mass for Sunday - 10:00am Vigil Mass of Mary, Mother of God - 7:00pm
Monday, Jan. 1, New Year's Day
No Mass
The Mission grounds and office will be closed from Dec. 24th through January 1st except for scheduled Masses.
MDMRETREAT SCHEDULE
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR WOMEN'S FEBRUARY RETREAT IN SPANISH
Winter- Spring 2024 Jan. 11-14 - EWJ - Women/English Feb. 8-11 - EWJ - Women/Spanish Feb. 29-March 3 - EWJ - Men/English March 28-31 - PASCHAL TRIDUUM RETREAT MAY 3-5 - COR JESU - Men June 6-9 - EWJ - Men/Spanish
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Registration will open on our website, two months prior to each retreat.
If a retreat is full, continue the registration form and your name will be added to the waiting list. We will notify you in case there is a cancellation.
EACH PERSON MUST REGISTER INDIVIDUALLY, NOT AS A GROUP.
We cannot reserve spaces in advance of the opening date for reservation.
Due to limited space, we will give priority to those who have not made an EWJ.
Prior retreatants wishing to make another retreat should call 830-302-9707.
"This is what MDM is called to be: a growing communion of trust in His Mercy for our needy world." ~ Fr. John Mary
MDM started encouraging people to pray "Jesus, I trust in You" ten times a day back in 2011. Recently we felt it was important to remind people to turn to Jesus with this simple, powerful prayer in a world that feels more and more out of control. We are suggesting 20 times, but some people find themselves repeating it hundreds of times. It reminds our troubled souls that GOD IS IN CONTROL.
Many of you have put your name on our growing list and have also left a prayer intention or testimony:
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God Bless! I just found this mission online!~Troy
**** Please dear Lord have my granddaughter return home and reconcile with her mother.~Karolyn
**** Father God. Thank you for your most precious love. I believe that Jesus is the fulfillment of your every promise. Holy Spirit grant me grace to Surrender to Jesus and abandon myself to the Divine Assistance. Jesus I Trust in You. Bless and protect our little mission providing Sacred Space for our soul.~Jill ****
I am praying to find community to be a part of, myself. ~Anonymous ****
Jesus, I trust you with my health. I’m asking and believing in a miracle to heal completely from cancer. You are and always will be a miracle worker and healer. In Jesus Holy name I pray.~Angelica
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So glad I found your mission. I woke up at 5 am and couldn’t sleep. Had been reading earlier about the Traditional Latin Mass. Apparently left browser open on The Reverent Catholic Mass website - opened map and there you were. I live in Buda, not too too far away. Will try to come out for Mass soon! I’m very drawn to converting to Catholicism and never been to Mass - raised Baptist (baptized). Have no idea why I’m “scared”, haha. I watch Mass on YouTube (Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, MA) so am very familiar with the Marians. I know God is reaching out to me! 😊❤️🙏. Thanks for all you do!~ Martha
Dear Jesus, I pray for your Bride, the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church. I pray for her special sons, the successors to Your first Apostles, that they may serve Her courageously as true Shepherds of the flock. ~ E. *****
