Monday 8 December is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Mother. It is a Holy Day of Obligation. Masses for the Holy Day will be celebrated as follows:
8:30 am at Our Lady of Peace
9:00 am at Notre Dame de Lourdes (Mass with the School students)
6:30 pm at Notre Dame de Lourdes
Mass Readings and reflection questions – Immaculate Conception – 8 December 2025 Cycle A
Genesis 3:9, 15-20 – Have you ever hidden from God? Where did God find you? Has it ever felt that God has been hidden from you? Where did you find God? / In what ways does the serpent trick you? / Do you like reptiles? Why, or why not?
Responsorial Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 – R: Sing to the Lord a new song for he has done marvelous deeds. – What are the marvelous deeds the Lord has done for you? / How has the Lord made his salvation known to you?
Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 – Describe the spiritual blessings with which you have been blessed? / What are the things that God has chosen for you? Which of those things have you accepted? Which have you rejected?
Luke 1:26-38 – What is grace? With what levels of grace are you operating? How is grace acquired? / Do you trust that with God all things are possible? / This Gospel passage is retold in the Angelus prayer. What is the Angelus? How often do you pray it?
Here is a quick snapshot of the Advent / Christmas / and New Year’s celebrations at our parish.
Additional Confessions:
Sundays at OLP:12/7; 12/14; 12/21 from 12:30pm to 1:15pm
Tuesday at OLP: 12/9 from 9:00am to 9:30am
Sunday at ND:12/21 from 10:30am to 11:30am
Christmas Eve Masses:
at OLP: 5:15pm
at ND: 4:00pm & 7:00pm
Christmas Day Masses:
at OLP: 7:30am & 11:30am
New Year’s Masses:
at OLP: 4:30pm (12/31); 8:30am (1/1)
at ND: 11:30am (1/1)
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops offers an Advent calendar with Scripture references, reflections, ideas for the season, and weekly offerings from the writings of Pope Leo. The link to their site is below.
“Just as no one is born a champion, no one is born a saint. It is daily training in love that brings us closer to final victory (cf. Rom 5:3-5) and enables us to contribute to the building of a new world.”
Pope Leo XIV, Homily, June 15, 2025
https://www.usccb.org/resources/Advent-Calendar-2025-%20English.pdf
Mass Readings and reflection questions – 2nd Sunday of Advent – 7 December 2025 Cycle A
Isaiah 11:1-10 – The spirits that Isaiah is describing rest upon you by virtue of your Confirmation. How well are they blossoming for you? / How good of a judge are you? What helps you to make decisions? / With whom are you most likely to share a meal? Least likely?
Responsorial Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 – R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. – Where in your life do you need profound peace? / In what ways are you bringing blessings to the earth?
Romans 15:4-9 – With whom do you think in harmony? / How strong is your spiritual endurance?
Matthew 3:1-12 – What pathways do you need to make straight before Christmas? What do you need to make that happen? / What was the most unusual food that you have ever eaten? What would you like to try? / How well is your tree bearing fruit? / How close to the barn are you?