ADVENT EMBER DAYS

Ember days are quarterly penitential days that were reintroduced by the Ordinariate. They are Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday of this week. The word derives from the Old English Ymbren, which means “circuit.” The liturgical prayers in our missal correspond with the season and intensify the anticipation of Advent.

ADVENT QUIET DAY

The calm before the storm. Fr. Phil Lyman will offer meditations on the nativity poetry of St. John of the Cross. This will be on Saturday Morning, December 18th from 8am to 1pm. Mass - three short meditations - concluding with Benediction. Plenty of time for silence and prayer before the Blessed Sacrament (and before the relic of St. John of the Cross in our high altar). Confessions offered throughout.

THURSDAY EVENSONGS IN ADVENT

We'll gather at 5pm for a holy hour with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. We'll expose the Sacrament at 5pm, say Evening Prayer, and then continue with a holy hour until Benediction before 6pm. Come when you can--for part of the hour or the whole time of prayer. December 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd.

MEN'S ADVENT EXERCISE

The men are invited to prepare for Christ’s coming during Advent by considering the spiritual life, actually growing in union with Jesus through prayer, practicing the virtues, and engaging in asceticism and fraternity. The exercise will consist of 20 minutes minimum daily prayer accompanied by daily reflections to facilitate meditation on excerpts from Isaiah, the gospels, and St. John of the Cross. The ascetic disciplines include abstaining from sweets, snacking, unnecessary screen time, and fasting/abstinence on Fridays. Fraternity will consist of one-on-one partnerships for encouragement and prayer requests and weekly fraternity meetings as possible on Sundays, 15 minutes after the end of mass. No matter where you are on your spiritual journey, you’re welcome to join. If Jesus made Peter, Paul, and Augustine into saints, then we have no excuse not to co-operate with His grace to reach the heights of sanctity which St. John of the Cross reached and explains for us. If interested, please contact Garrett Hughes

AUDIO PREPARATION FOR HOLY COMMUNION

We've uploaded two audio files to YouTube to assist us as we prepare to receive the Holy Mysteries. When our time for preparation and thanksgiving is limited, we can use these in transit.
Prayers of Preparation: https://youtu.be/WzQHvp3b2ws
Prayers of Thanksgiving: https://youtu.be/T1kfTgTu-Fc

MOUNT CALVARY ON SIGNUP.COM

SignUp.com allows us to post volunteer sign ups for our social events and retreats throughout the year. Please bookmark this page as a one-stop source for future signups so you can find it when needed: https://signup.com/go/iqwWpst

Dec

5

Second Sunday of Advent

According to John the Baptist, repentance is renewal. Our Sunday schedule now begins with Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at 8:30am, morning prayer at 9am in the main church, confessions starting at 9:30, and a 10am Mass. After Mass please join us for a fellowship brunch in the church undercroft. Please visit our signup page to help with the coffee hour after Mass. The live streamed Mass will be available on our YouTube channel, or by clicking below:


The bulletin to accompany the Mass in PDF format is available in the YouTube description.

Dec

8

Immaculate Conception

We will have a 6pm Sung Mass followed by a Pot Providence dinner.

Dec

12

Lessons and Carols 4pm on Gaudete Sunday

Don't miss our annual Lessons and Carols in the Cambridge tradition. Our choir will be in full force as we recount the history of redemption in Scripture and song, culminating in the Nativity. There will be no coffee hour after Mass so that we can return for some Gaudete Sunday festivity. Reception to follow.

Dec

13

Troops of St George

Our local troop of the Troops of St George meets on the 2nd Monday of each month. We meet at the All Saints Sisters Convent in Catonsville. Troops of St George is a great chance for dads and their sons to grow in their faith together as well as enjoy the outdoors and learn life skills and virtues. Learn more at troopsofsaintgeorge.org and contact our Troop Captain Mr. Josh Crain if you would like to join or help. Troops is for boys ages 6 to 18.

Dec

24

CHRISTMAS EVE AT 10PM

Our primary Christmas liturgy begins with Carols at 10am and Mass at 10:30. Ending just after midnight, it becomes a "midnight" Mass that is manageable for families. Many parents bring young children (even in pajamas) to make a priority of this feast of feasts.