The start of the season of Advent inspired a Duluth pastor to reflect upon the passing of Bishop Paul Sirba, who died a year ago.

Parishioners marked the anniversary of Sirba's passing earlier this week with a Holy Hour that was preceded by a Rosary in his honor hosted by the Knights of Columbus, the parish bulletin reported.

The Rev. Anthony Wroblewski, of St. Mary Star of the Sea, said Sirba's death was a "difficult lesson" in the Second Coming of Christ, another theme found in the Advent Liturgy.

"It was a hard lesson in the fact that one day Jesus Christ will call all of us home to Him," Wroblewski wrote in a letter to parishioners printed in the parish bulletin. 

He said Advent, in a way, has similarities to Lent, the season that gets Catholics ready for Easter. Wroblewski told his congregation in the bulletin that Advent used to be 40 days, just like Lent, but was shortened to four weeks. The first notation of the reduction was cited in a letter of Pope St. Nichols I to the Bulgarians in the ninth century. Some Orthodox Curches still continue to fast during Advent. It's also a Polish tradition to refrain from eating meat on Christmas Eve, and then serve a large festive, but still meatless, meal as soon as the first star appears in the night sky.

He called on parishioners to make this Advent season the "the most significant spiritual times" in their lives.

"Sine we have to let go of large parties or celebrations this year due to the COVID crisis, perhaps we will have more time to truly make this Advent Season a very spiritual one," Wroblewski said, the bulletin reported.

He also encouraged people to pray, and prepare for the coming of Jesus, not only should the world end, but for when we meet him in Heaven.