Here are this week's Prayers of the Faithful: 

• For the message of the Baptist to deepen our faith; that we straighten the path we are on, and prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ; we pray to the Lord.

• For the Church to echo the Baptist; to cry out to the world and make known what the prophets foretold: that a Savior has come to save our souls; we pray to the Lord.

• For leaders of our nation and those recently elected, and for all citizens to reflect more and more the peace and justice of God’s Kingdom; we pray to the Lord.

• For an end to a culture of consumerism, especially at Christmas; that we recognize that faith in Christ is the only gift needed; we pray to the Lord.

• For the hope of this sacred season to bring healing and peace; for the winding roads of illness to be made straight; for valleys of depression to be filled; and for mountains of fear to be made low; we pray to the Lord.

• For all who have gone before us, and for Denise Downes, Lynda Tenaglia, Raymond & Catherine Ethier, Arthur Morris, Madeline & Harry Dooley and the parishioners of Our Lady of the Lake, whom we remember at this Mass, and for Jesus who came to dwell on the earth, to lead them home to Heaven; we pray to the Lord.

• For all service men and women and their loved ones, for the intentions in our Parish Book of Prayers and on our Prayer Line, and for all those prayers deep within our hearts, that are known to God alone; we pray to the Lord.

Click this link to hear Father Ken's homily, "Lower Those Mountains, Fill In Those Valleys".