Here are this week's Prayers of the Faithful: 

• That we listen to the Baptist and be credible Christians who live the faith we profess, by caring for the poor and the hungry, and those at home, work, and school; we pray to the Lord.

• For more vocations of all kinds: to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life, holy matrimony, and the blessed single life; may all of God’s people discern and respond to His call to love and serve according to His will; we pray to the Lord.

• For rulers of nations, and the people they govern, to be aware of and be humbled by the prophecies fulfilled, and the Mighty One who is coming; we pray to the Lord.

• For all who are sick, lonely, depressed, and are grieving, and for David Bremer; that all will remember the true meaning of Christmas, and know that Jesus our Savior will give healing and hope to their body and soul; we pray to the Lord.

• For all who have gone before us, and for Francis Marchessault, who recently died, and for Shirley White, Ken Desjean, Louise Dion and for the parishioners of Our Lady of the Lake, whom we remember at this Mass; for the Son of God, who came to dwell among us, 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, "Deciding To Rejoice".