Advent
With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, the start of Advent isn't too far away. As we speed into the holiday season, Advent can often be nudged to the periphery, despite the fact that Advent can have a profound effect on our attitude about Christmas. Advent is a time to concentrate on Mary, the mother of God. Sometimes we forget that Mary put her hopes, dreams, and aspirations on hold in order to answer God's call to be the mother of Jesus. Mary said "yes," and that changed her whole life. A question for us to ponder this Advent season: How many times have we put our plans aside and said "yes" to God's plan for us?
In this heartfelt FatherSide Chat, Father Gene shares how his years serving in urban ministry opened his eyes to the realities of others’ lives. Through listening, humility, and compassion, he learned that true ministry begins by welcoming differences with an open heart.
In this episode of FatherSide Chats, Father Gene reflects on what it means to live with intention — to dream boldly, work patiently, and keep faith alive even when results are slow. It’s a lesson in perseverance, purpose, and hope.