And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only-begotten Son from the Father. -John 1:14

On the Fourth Sunday of Advent, the Mass readings shift from the ministry of St. John the Baptist to the narrative of the birth of Jesus. This coming weekend we “prepare for landing” and brace ourselves for the amazing and scandalizing birth of Our Lord.

Watch Bishop Golka's Reflection on the Second Sunday of Advent

Bishop Golka's Reflection on the Second Sunday of Advent

Statement on Club Q nightclub shooting - final.pdf (diocs.org)

Watch Bishop Golka's Reflection on the First Week of Advent

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHy78lLo_GQ

En la noche del 26 de noviembre, la Iglesia de todo el mundo inaugurará el tiempo de Adviento y el comienzo de un nuevo año litúrgico.  Es importante recordar que el Adviento tiene dos partes. Estas dos partes tienen significados muy distintos.   

On the evening of Nov. 26, the Church throughout the world will usher in the season of Advent and the beginning of a new Church year. It is important to remember that there are two parts of Advent.  These two parts have very distinct meanings. 

Watch Bishop Golka's Reflection video on the first week of Advent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHy78lLo_GQ

Por eso también nosotros damos siempre gracias a Dios, porque, cuando escucharon la Palabra de Dios que les predicamos, la recibieron, no como palabra humana, sino como realmente es, Palabra de Dios, que actúa en ustedes, los creyentes. -1 Tesalonicenses 2:13

Mis queridos hermanos y hermanas en Cristo, es seguro decir que, en mi primer año y medio como obispo, he hecho cosas que nunca había soñado hacer en toda mi vida. Muchas de esas cosas son sólo parte de la vida de un obispo. Algunas cosas han sido alegres y otras tristes.

We also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. —1 Thes 2:13

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, it is safe to say that in my first year and a half as your bishop, I have done things I never dreamed of doing in my entire life. A lot of those things are just part of the life of a bishop. Some things have been joyful and others sad.

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the chalice, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. — 1 Cor 11:26

The gift of the Eucharist and the celebration of the sacrificial banquet always include the offering of bread and wine. It has always been essential to the celebration of the Sacrament that the priest offering the Mass receives both the Sacred Body and Precious Blood. The practice of the early Church was to offer the laity communion under both kinds as well. This practice eventually fell out of use for numerous reasons by the 12th century (“Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds,” 17-18).