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).

"And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:42) My dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

“Se reunían frecuentemente para escuchar la enseñanza de los apóstoles, y participar en la vida común, en la fracción del pan y en las oraciones.” (Hechos 2:42.)

Behold, I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:5). My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, The Church in the United States has begun a three-year renewal process called "Eucharistic Renaissance."

Behold, I make all things new” (Rv 21:5). My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the Catholic Church in the United States has begun a three-year process of renewal called the “Eucharistic Revival.”

Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ. In my last letter, I proposed that we might take time to better understand what happens at the Mass.