Bishop John C. Wester blesses the Advent wreath on the First Sunday of Advent

Intermountain Catholic

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Bishop John C. Wester blesses the Advent Wreath during the celebration of the Filipino Catholics' Misang Bayan Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Salt Lake City Dec. 2, which marked the First Sunday of Advent. Father William Flegge (back) concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Wester. IC photo by Christine Young

SALT LAKE CITY — Filipino Catholics filled Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Salt Lake City, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their founding Dec. 2.

The Filipino Community, known as Misang Bayan, has members from as far north as Logan and as far south as Orem. The Filipino Catholics formed Misang Bayan to sustain their spiritual growth. It is important to them to come together as a community to hold on to their Filipino culture. The Misang Bayan Mass is held the first Sunday of every month at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and is open to all Catholics, said Penrico Sese, coordinator of the Filipino Ministry in the Diocese of Salt Lake City.

"This day is special to us, not only because we are celebrating 10 years, but also because this is the first time Bishop John C. Wester has celebrated Mass," said Sese.

Prepare for Advent before you start decorating for Christmas was the message Bishop Wester gave in his homily.

"Wait, we still have three weeks and two days before the Christmas season begins even though the stores would have you think otherwise," said Bishop Wester. "Every time we have the opportunity to prepare for Advent, or a similar experience we anticipate with great joy, we experience a change in attitude and a change in our disposition. We can be on pins and needles or a little giddy.

"That is what it is like anticipating the coming of Christ at Christmas," said Bishop Wester. "Here we are on Dec. 2, the first Sunday of Advent, and Christmas is in the air. There is something we are anticipating with great joy, but it is at arms length."

Bishop Wester said Christmas is a gift. Not something we do, it is God’s idea. God loved us so much he gave us his only son. We are anticipating God coming as a sign of peace.

"We prepare for Christmas by writing our Christmas cards, cleaning our homes, cooking meals, and shopping," said Bishop Wester. But it is our role to participate by changing our lives. Christ came so we could change who we are in subtle ways. We want to be ready. We do not want to miss out. We ready ourselves by more daily prayer, possibly an extra five or 10 minutes each day, spending more time speaking to our spouse, to our neighbors, or to fellow workers. We can perform works of charity, give time to the sick or food to the poor, or improve our attitudes if we have been pessimistic. We can also get more rest and exercise if we have been lacking in those areas.

"But we cannot do this alone," said Bishop Wester. "God works in us to prepare us and gives us the means to receive those gifts. Advent season gives us the time to wait for Christ. But in reality, who is waiting for whom? Are we waiting for God, or is God waiting for us? We can’t wait alone, but we will be ready to celebrate Christmas once again, and the coming of the newborn savior."

A reception followed the Mass with traditional Filipino food. Rudy Roca, a member of the Cathedral of the Madeleine Parish, sang "Because of You," and dedicated it to Bishop Wester. Bishop Wester said it was his favorite love song from the Philippines.

Sese said, "Today is also special because the wonderful Salt Lake City Filipino-American Choir Ensemble sang. The members are all Filipino Americans, and they only sing on special occasions.

"We are hoping to establish the first Sunday in December as the Misang Bayan Bishop’s Mass to begin our Advent season every year," said Sese.