“I will raise up for David a just shoot; he shall do what is right and just in the land.” Jeremiah 33:15

Advent… a time of expectant and hopeful waiting… the time we prepare ourselves for the birth of Our Lord and Savior.  Could there be a more important moment in the life of the soul?

Today we begin our journey toward Christmas and the miracle of Bethlehem.  We can be secure in our hope because we have the promise of the Christ Child… we have the wisdom of scripture… and we have one another.

On the first Sunday of Advent I draw special meaning from today’s readings, and I hope you do, too.  Jeremiah says the time is at hand when a descendant from the House of David will bring righteous judgment and justice across all the land. 

This was reassuring in the prophet’s time, and remains especially so now.  We are, at times, confronted with seemingly impossible challenges.  But scripture tells us never to despair because one called by God will redeem us.  I also find solace in Luke’s Gospel, my favorite evangelist.  He says rather than be afraid of change, stand tall and embrace it “because your redemption is at hand.”

We have endured a lot of tests this year.  So Advent begins with a plea from the psalmist for God’s ways to be made known to us, and for our vigilance and humility to guide us toward justice.  We pray during Advent for the strength to overcome whatever obstacles may come our way, knowing that in the Christ Child we have the promise of salvation.  And as always, we take comfort in the prayers we offer one another.

Friend, we have such wonderful traditions at this time of year.  When you light the first of four candles in your Advent wreath, know you are beginning the most hopeful journey of the liturgical year.  Embrace the gift of love we are about to receive on Christmas Day.  We may not know all that the New Year will bring.  But we know that God will be with us for the journey in the presence of the Christ Child.  May your Advent be full of expectation and joy.  I am walking in hope beside you.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Lance Nadeau, M.M.

First Sunday in Advent

My heart longs for Your love, O Lord,

and my heart for Your peace

and my soul for Your grace.

Come into my life again

as You came to holy Mary

and Joseph in Bethlehem.

Help me to prepare a place for You,

welcoming and warm, in my family,

among my relatives, with my friends and neighbors.

Open my eyes to see Your presence

in everyone I meet today: among the poor as well as the privileged,

the weak as well as the powerful.

During this holy season of waiting

grant me the patience to keep silent

when I should, and the wisdom to speak

at the proper time that my words and actions,

my thoughts and prayers this Advent might

glow as a candle in the growing darkness

to lead others back to You.

Amen.

Prayer by Father Joe Veneroso, M.M.

ABOUT MARYKNOLL

We are a Catholic Society of priests and brothers based in the United States. We are dedicated to missionary work overseas in over 20 countries. Additionally, we animate Catholics in the United States to follow their own baptismal call to share God’s compassion and love with the poor, the sick, and all those in need.

OUR GENERAL COUNCIL

L-R Tom O'Brien, Ray Finch, Joe Everson, Russ Feldmeier

(Fr. Lance P. Nadeau, Fr. James M. Lynch, Fr. Timothy O. Kilkelly, Fr. Juan Montes Zúñiga)

The Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers is overseen by our General Council, led by Superior General Rev. Lance P. Nadeau, M.M.

OUR FOUNDERS

L-R Tom O'Brien, Ray Finch, Joe Everson, Russ Feldmeier

(Our Co-Founders Father Price and Father Walsh)

PLACES WE SERVE

EVANGELIZATION, PARISHES, AND PROJECTS

USA

STORIES OF MISSION

(Africa) Education and Formation of African Clergy

The Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers Africa Region will provide tuition assistance to African clergy, male and female religious at institutes of higher education or specialized training. Read More

Stories of Our Global Mission

The calling of a lifetime

The life of a Maryknoll missioner is challenging, fulfilling, and deeply rewarding. Follow your baptismal call to mission by sharing God’s compassion with the poor, the sick, and people most in need.

Dear Friend in Mission,

With hearts full of hope, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers joyfully welcomes the election of our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. In this historic moment for the universal Church, we give thanks to God for the gift of a new pope—chosen to succeed Pope Francis and guide us forward in faith, love, and missionary zeal.

Pope Leo XIV brings with him a deep commitment to dialogue, peace, and global solidarity—values that echo the very heart of our missionary vocation. A seasoned pastoral leader and thoughtful theologian, he is known for his compassionate outreach and dedication to the spiritual and social needs of the Church, particularly in regions experiencing hardship and need.

His years of missionary service in Peru, working among underserved communities, reflect a profound dedication to the Church’s mission of presence, accompaniment, and evangelization. His firsthand experience on the peripheries of society has shaped his vision for a Church that listens, serves, and uplifts—all grounded in Christ’s love.

As missionaries, we have been deeply inspired by Pope Francis’s call to go to the peripheries, to serve the poor, and to be instruments of God’s mercy and peace. We now look with prayerful anticipation to Pope Leo XIV, confident that the Holy Spirit will continue to lead the Church through his words and witness.

We invite you to join us in praying for our new pope, asking the Lord to bless him with wisdom, courage, and compassion as he begins his ministry as the Vicar of Christ and visible sign of unity for the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics.

Thank you for walking with us on this missionary journey. Together, in communion with the successor of St. Peter, we remain committed to proclaiming the Gospel and witnessing to Christ’s love around the world.

In gratitude and peace,

Father Lance Nadeau, M.M. signature

Reverend Lance P. Nadeau, M.M.
Superior General

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