There are few things more terrifying than the thought of the end of the world. The great day of reckoning has many names—the Apocalypse, the Rapture, Armageddon, the Day of Judgement, and for us Catholics, the most solemn of all, the Second Coming of Christ. No matter the name, it speaks to one undeniable reality: this world, in all its fleeting glory, will come to an end. And make no mistake, beloved, that end is near. The Lord Himself has warned us, “The Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Matthew 24:44). We may try to ignore it, or even wish it away, but the day is coming.

In the early Church, the faithful expected Christ’s return in their own lifetimes. Indeed, for centuries, as calamity and chaos have swept across the world, countless Christians have cried out, “The End Times are upon us!” And yet, time marches on. We live our lives, go about our routines, and let the years slip by. But this is precisely the complacency that our Lord cautioned against! The day of His return will come like a thief in the night, and we are called to be ready—always ready—whether that day comes today or in the distant future. We know neither the day nor the hour, but we must be prepared at all times, with vigilant hearts and spirits that are awake.

This is where the wisdom of the Church shines through, guiding us in the ways of readiness and devotion. We cannot, after all, spend every moment looking to the sky, waiting for the Apocalypse to unfold. Our lives are busy. We are parents, workers, children, caretakers. We have mouths to feed, bills to pay, duties to fulfill. But beloved, God knows this. He understands our concerns, our distractions, and our struggles. And this is why, in His infinite mercy, He has given us a season—a sacred time of preparation—Advent.

The word “Advent” comes from the Latin Adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival.” And it is this very coming that we prepare for during these holy weeks. As the days grow shorter and the world darkens, we, the faithful, are called to open our hearts and souls to the light of Christ, who has already come among us and will come again in glory. Each scripture reading we hear during Advent carries with it a profound urgency. These are not words of the past; they are words for today. They challenge us: Are we ready to meet the Lord? Are we prepared to stand before the King of Kings, when He returns in all His majesty?

To help guide us in this holy preparation, I invite you all to join us for our Advent Day of Recollection on Saturday, November 23rd. This will be a day of grace and renewal, where we, as one parish family, will turn our eyes and hearts toward heaven, looking to Christ’s glorious return not with fear, but with eager anticipation. As your pastor, I am calling you to this moment of spiritual reflection, of personal renewal, to rediscover the hope and joy that come from knowing that the End of the World is not the end of our lives, but the fulfillment of all our hopes—the triumphant return of our Lord and Savior.

This Advent Day of Recollection will feature activities for families in both English and Spanish, so that all can partake in this holy preparation. Together, we will reflect on what it truly means to be ready for the Second Coming, how to live our lives in such a way that when He arrives, we will meet Him not with fear or shame, but with open arms, hearts full of love, and souls purified by grace.

I, along with the Sisters of Pro Ecclesia Sancta, will offer spiritual reflections and insights on how we can eagerly prepare our lives for the coming of the Son of Man. It will be a day of prayer, of reflection, and of renewal—a time to look inward and ask ourselves, Am I living in readiness for Christ’s return?

Let us not wait. Let us not delay. The hour is drawing near. The King is coming. And when He comes, let it be with joy, with faith, and with hearts prepared in love. I look forward to seeing you there, as we all prepare ourselves to meet Him face to face.

God bless you all, and may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts this Advent season.