Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas

As Christmas approaches, it is important to prepare our hearts for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. What does that look like in practice? In a recent article, Catholic News Agency recalled the five concrete commitments Pope Francis offered to the faithful in his 2021 Angelus message for Advent:  

1.) Call a person who is alone. 

2.) Visit an elderly or sick person. 

3.) Do something to serve a poor person or a person in need. 

4.) Ask for forgiveness, forgive, clear up any conflict, or pay a debt. 

5.) Return to prayer and draw near to the forgiveness of the Lord. 

We also encourage you to listen to the latest podcast from the Diocese of Jefferson City. Students at Mary Immaculate Parish School and Helias Catholic High School shared their questions about this holy day. Msgr. Robert Kurwicki, Vicar General of the Diocese of Jefferson City, shared answers to questions like, ‘Was Jesus actually born in a stable? Why do we place presents under the tree?’ along with the history behind today's Christmas traditions.  

Listen to the podcast here.

From all of us at the Missouri Catholic Conference, Merry Christmas! Our next MCC Weekly Update will be on Friday, January 6, 2023.