First Sunday of Advent, November 30, 2025
Hail and Blessed by the hour and the moment
When the Son of God was born
Of the most pure Virgin Mary,
At midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold.
In that hour vouchsafe, O my God,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires
Through the merits of our Savior Jesus Christ
And of his blessed Mother. Amen.
When I was in elementary school, the Sisters taught us to say this prayer 15 times each day from the feast of Saint Andrew (November 30) until Christmas eve (December 24). This has been my Advent custom from then until now. In this prayer, we are asking that God grant on Christmas eve what we ask for all during Advent. Every year I write down my Advent prayer requests and ask God to bless me on Christmas. Nowadays I also make a personal donation to Saint John's to include these intentions in the Saint John's Christmas novena of Masses.
During Advent and Christmas, we remember that the Word became flesh, that our God entered history and became one of us in Jesus. I commemorate Advent by pouring out to God every day my longings, my desires and my hopes. I don't precisely pray this prayer 15 times each day, but I say it many times each day, surely more than 15. But I don't count. Advent is a season of hope and a time for me to cast my cares on God who loves me and is powerful. I am not sure why the prayer does not begin on the first Sunday of Advent, but on the feast of Saint Andrew. This year the first Sunday of Advent falls on the feast of Saint Andrew.
I tell you about my personal devotion in part to recommend it to you; in part to encourage you to make a good Advent, to take time for prayer and reflection.
Gospel of Matthew Class
Retired Villanova Professor of Scripture, Paul Danove, will offer a weekly Zoom class on the Gospel of Matthew beginning Wednesday, December 3 from 7-8:30 PM. Recordings are available for those who can't be online for the class. Professor Danove's classes on the Gospels of Mark and Luke were appreciated by his students. If you wish to receive Zoom invitations, please email Fr Tom:
Cathedral Advent Retreat Day
All are invited to an Advent Retreat day (9:30 AM 3:30 PM) at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. The theme is "The Cry of the Poor and the Heart of the Church: A Guided Journey through Pope Leo's Apostolic Exhortation Delexi Te."
For information or to register, please email:
sr.mfaustina@archphila.org
Jacks Yacs Christmas Collection for the Poor
Our Saint John's young adults are preparing food and toiletries packets for our homeless and poor neighbors. Please see the signs posted in the church for a list of the things that are being collected. Help our young adults to make Christmas a bit merrier for our poor neighbors. Items are being collected until December 7.
Saint John's Christmas Concert
Saint John's music ministry and choir will present the annual Saint John's Christmas concert on Sunday, December 21 at 2 PM.
Christmas Gifts for Nursing Home Residents
During the week before Christmas, Saint John's and Waldron Academy children will visit ProMedica Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Lombard Street, singing Christmas carols. On Christmas Eve, the Holy Redeemer Youth Group will visit Echelon, a nursing home in Voorhees, NJ to sing Christmas carols. In both institutions the children hope to give each resident a Christmas gift. Simple gifts are ap- preciated: word puzzle books, adult coloring books, decks of cards, stuffed animals, 2026 calendars with pictures, socks, warm scarves or lap blankets. Please consider buying a few gifts for the residents and drop them back of church through this season of Advent. Please wrap the gifts.
Please do not give food or candy.
Capital Campaign Report
Saint John Church must make essential repairs to our electrical system, upper church air conditioning and deteriorating patio which houses our mechanical systems. Saint John's can't function without these systems. Please see our website for more information on our capital campaign: stjohnsphilly.org.
| Category | Amount Received (As of November 17) |
| Ordinary donations | $290,952 |
| Large donations | $725,000 |
| Historic Preservation Fund | $50,000 |
| All cash received | $1,065,952 |
We are working with good architects and a project manager. I have confidence in our team. However, as our experts make solid plans and estimate costs, the price of this project grows, perhaps to as much as $1.4 Million.
Second Collection for Saint John's Debt Reduction
This weekend we will have a second collection to make a payment on our parish debt.
Please be generous.
End of the Year Donation
Some parishioners and friends find that it makes sense to make an extra generous donation at the end of the year. Please consider a donation either to our capital campaign or to our general operating fund.
Thank you to our generous parishioners and friends who support Saint John's year round.
