Good News for December 3, 2025
- St. Raymond of Penafort
- 4 minutes ago
- 5 min read
In this Issue:
When the Desert Becomes a Path
~Stan Sienkiewicz
Saint Albert the Great + Huntingdon Valley, Pa.
Advent begins with a startling scene with John the Baptist emerging from the desert, calling out, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths.” Before we rush to respond, the Gospel invites us to notice where John has come from. He appears out of the desert, a place where God has always formed His people. The desert is quiet, stripped down, uncluttered. It is the place where noise dies, and the heart begins to hear again. In the silence of that wilderness, John learned to recognize God’s voice and Advent is a time for us to do the same.
The weeks before Christmas can be some of the noisiest of the year, filled with plans, pressure, and constant rushing but God speaks most clearly in stillness. Advent invites us to carve out our own “desert time” a few quiet minutes each morning, a pause in the evening, a moment of Scripture or prayer when everything else is put aside. It is in the quiet that we remember what truly matters, and it is in the quiet that we hear the gentle footsteps of a God who is drawing near.
But the desert is not only a place of listening; it is also a place of preparation. John does not simply say “wait.” He says prepare. Isaiah’s prophecy describes roadwork, the clearing of obstacles so the King may enter freely, valleys filled, mountains lowered, crooked paths made straight. That is the inner work of Advent. Preparing the way means asking what in my life needs leveling or clearing. What resentment has grown high? What discouragement has carved a deep valley? What habit has twisted my path away from God? Preparing the way does not require perfection. It requires honesty. It means noticing where I need forgiveness, where I need patience, where I need to reach out, let go, or begin again. Advent preparation is not about making myself worthy; it is about making space.
All of this preparation is rooted in one truth. He is coming. John’s final words lift our eyes beyond our own efforts, “One mightier than I is coming.” Advent is not primarily about what we do, but about the God who approaches us with tenderness and power. The One who comes is stronger than our sins, deeper than our fears, and more faithful than our wandering hearts. He comes quietly like dawn over the desert, but He comes to save, to heal, and to renew.
May this Advent be a time where the quiet of the desert opens our ears, where honest preparation clears our hearts, and where hope grows as we remember that the Lord is truly on His way.
FaceTime With Jesus - December 8
Please note that FaceTime next month is December 8 (the second Monday) at 7 pm.
Be Renewed with our Homily Series!
Fr. Zlock, Deacon Michael and Deacon Bill have prepared a wonderful Advent Homily Series “Make This Advent Different”. You can get details here.
Family Day December 13
To register, click this link or email brandi@saintraymond.net.
Biblical Walk with Mary
Take a Biblical walk with Mary. We meet on Thursdays in person in the Sr. Rosemary Room for six weeks, from November 13 to December 18. Our Blessed Mother wants to be a part of your daily life.
View the latest member guides:
Healing for the Holidays Virtual Workshops
Parishioner, Jessie Marushak, is hosting 2 more virtual Healing for the Holidays workshops. Click here to register.
Christmas & New Year Mass Schedule
Christmas Concert December 21
Please join us for our annual Christmas Concert. This is the perfect opportunity to invite someone to experience the spirit of Christmas. We will also be hosting a reception immediately following the concert. All are welcome in the Sr. Rosemary Room for desserts, drinks and fellowship.
Giving Tree and Angel Tree
The Giving Tree is on display in the rear of the church. Please take a card and purchase one or more of the items indicated. Your contributions will be used to stock the Blessing Shop at our annual Home for Christmas Celebration. Men, women and children from area shelters will be our guests and will be allowed to select from the items that are donated. Gifts also will be provided for children whose parents are incarcerated. If you are supplying a gift card for a teen, please DO NOT place it in the donation boxes in the rear of the church; instead, place it in the collection basket or in the collection boxes in the church. Please return your gift(s) UNWRAPPED to church or rectory before December 17th.
There is also an Angel Tree, with cards made especially for children of incarcerated parents. Leave those gifts unwrapped as well, and return to the church or rectory by December 17th.
Thank you for your generosity.
Help Decorate for Christmas!
Christmas Preparation:
Please bring your enthusiasm and hands to help make the joy of Christ shine at St Raymond Church. Dates and times are:
Friday, 12/19, 7:00 PM and Saturday, 12/20, 10:00 AM - Noon.
Christmas Eve:
Decorators, plant waterers and heavy lifters needed to help on Christmas Eve at 9am in the Church. While there are teams who will be working, additional help would be greatly appreciated. Just show up!
Home for Christmas - December 25
Volunteers are needed to help St. Raymond Church welcome more than 200 guests from homeless shelters across the City of Philadelphia for our annual Home for Christmas event on December 25 from 12-3 PM! Everyone is served a delicious meal, receives items from the Blessing Shop, and shares in the joy of celebrating Jesus’ birthday together.
Many volunteer opportunities are available throughout the coming weeks — and we’d love for you to be part of it. Click here to sign up and be a blessing to our brothers and sisters in need.
Meat Raffle Winners
First Prize: Robert Santiago
Second Prize: Emery Matthews
Third Prize: Kenny Arrington
Holiday Office Schedule
The Rectory Office will be closed:
Wednesday, 12/24 (Christmas Eve)
Thursday, 12/25 (Christmas Day)
Monday, 12/29
Tuesday, 12/30
Wednesday, 12/31 (New Years Eve)
Thursday, 1/1 (New Years Day)
Financial Facts
Sunday, November 23, 2025
Collection & Envelopes: $8,616.35
Church Maintenance: $579.00
Christmas Offering: $15.00
Catholic Relief: $25.00
REST: $55.00
Thanksgiving Offering: $135.00
Thanksgiving Baskets: $445.00
Total: $9,870.35
Sunday, November 30, 2025
Collection & Envelopes: $9,199.55
Church Maintenance: $346.00
REST: $2.00
Thanksgiving Offering: $545.00
Total: $10,092.55
Special Collections
12/7-Christmas Flowers
12/21-Maintenance
Join our Daily Call to Prayer
Catholic Call to Prayer. Please Call TOLL FREE 1-877-309-2073, Enter Code 319-414-445#. 6:30 am (Monday to Friday): This call lasts 5-7 minutes and can have an amazing impact at the start your day, reflecting on God’s WORD!!
Noon Call to Prayer. Same number, Monday to Friday at NOON. We will pray the Angelus, reflect on the 1st reading from Daily Mass, say intercessory prayer for those in need and beg God to draw us all nearer to Him.
Cell Phone Reminder
Once again, we need to remind everyone to silence their cell phones during Mass. Unexpected electronic sounds lead others to lose their focus during a time that all hold sacred. So we ask you, please, to honor this request and double-check your phone when you enter church.
Christmas Novena for the 83%
This Advent, all are invited to pray the St. Andrew Christmas Novena (Nov 30-Dec 24) for the intention of the reconciliation of our loved ones who are part of the 83% of Catholics who do not attend Mass. To participate, visit https://www.phillyevang.org/novena/
See the latest news from the Archdiocese
See the November Newsletter here.