Homily given at the 11:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, December 16, 2012, the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday), by Dcn. Greg VandeVoorde, Christ the King Catholic Church. God invites His people to return to Him and experience His joy, the joy that comes from being in His Presence thanks to His forgiveness. He, too, rejoices to have His people return to Him.

Key words: Advent, repentance, joy

Homily given at the 8:45 a.m. Mass on Sunday, December 16, 2012, the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday), by Fr. Ed Fride, Pastor, Christ the King Catholic Church. We are commanded to rejoice, not because of our circumstances, but because the King is coming!

Key words: Advent, rejoice

"Sharing the Gospel Back Then and All Over Again: Evangelism in the Early Church and the New Evangelism Today," a talk given by Steve Ray on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012 at Christ the King Catholic Church. This talk highlighted the Year of Faith and the New Evangelization called for by Pope Benedict XVI. Many thanks to Steve for his permission to make this talk available online.

Steve, his wife Janet and their children entered the Catholic Church at Christ the King on Pentecost Sunday, 1994. Since then Steve and Janet have traveled the world, sharing their joy and enthusiasm for the fullness of truth that they found in the Catholic Church. They have also written books, produced films, and led many pilgrimages to Israel and other holy sites. You can learn more about their ministry at www.catholic-convert.com.

Key words: evangelism, evangelization, faith

Homily given at the 8:45 a.m. Mass on Sunday, December 9, 2012, the Second Sunday of Advent, by Fr. Ed Fride, Pastor, Christ the King Catholic Church. On this Sunday, which occurs during the celebration of Hanukkah, Fr. Ed recounts the origin of Hanukkah, stemming from the rededication of the Temple recorded in the Book of Maccabees (1 Mac 4:36-58). St. Nicholas, like the Maccabees, was also a great man of faith, who boldly stood up against the Arian heresy. Advent is an invitation for us to grow in faith, to be like those great men and women of the past and stand for the truth of the Gospel.

Key words: Advent, faith, Hanukkah, Maccabees, St. Nicholas

Homily given at the 9:00 a.m. Mass on Saturday, December 8, 2012, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by Fr. Ed Fride, Pastor, Christ the King Catholic Church. Mary was prepared for the singular gift of the conception of the Second Person of the Trinity by another gift, receiving the grace of God to save her from original sin at the moment of her conception. She then cooperated with God's grace for the rest of her life, always saying "Yes" to God as she did at the Incarnation of Jesus. With the power of the Holy Spirit and her help, we, too, can give Jesus a profound "Yes" in every part of our lives and have victory over sin.

Key words: Immaculate Conception

This talk, the seventh and final talk in the Holy Spirit Seminar, was given on Sept. 29, 2012, by Olga Ortiz, seminar team leader. (The Holy Spirit Seminar is a one-day version of the seven-week Life in the Spirit Seminar.) Olga speaks with those who have been prayed with for the Baptism in the Spirit about some of the temptations that they may face going forward and how to grow in their relationship with God.

Key words: Holy Spirit, Baptism in the Spirit, growth

Some of the participants in the Holy Spirit Seminar held at Christ the King on Sept. 29, 2012, share what they experienced when they were prayed with for the Baptism in the Spirit.

Key words: Holy Spirit, Baptism in the Spirit

This talk, the sixth talk in the Holy Spirit Seminar, was given on Sept. 29, 2012, by Olga Ortiz, seminar team leader. (The Holy Spirit Seminar is a one-day version of the seven-week Life in the Spirit Seminar.) Before seminar participants are prayed with for the Baptism in the Spirit, Olga shares about being open to the Holy Spirit and some of the barriers that may try to keep us from receiving all that the Lord has for us.

Key words: Holy Spirit, Baptism in the Spirit, tongues

This talk, the fifth talk in the Holy Spirit Seminar, was given on Sept. 29, 2012, by Ann, a seminar team member. (The Holy Spirit Seminar is a one-day version of the seven-week Life in the Spirit Seminar.) Ann talks about preparing to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit by repenting of sin in our lives.

Key words: Holy Spirit, sin, repentance

This talk, the fourth talk in the Holy Spirit Seminar, was given on Sept. 29, 2012, by Wayne, a seminar team member. (The Holy Spirit Seminar is a one-day version of the seven-week Life in the Spirit Seminar.) Wayne talks about the gifts that the Holy Spirit gives.

Key words: Holy Spirit, gifts, charisms, tongues