Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Happy 4th Sunday and Merry Christmas!

This year is a weird one. Since Christmas falls tomorrow, on a Monday, the Christmas weekend looks like this:
4th Sunday of Advent

Sat Vigil Dec. 23 @ 4:30pm

Sun. Dec 24 @ 8am and @ 10:30am Christmas schedule

Sun Dec. 24 Vigil Mass @ 4pm
Mon Dec 25 Mass @ Midnight (12am) and @ 10am

Sometimes the question is asked, if one goes to Mass at the 4pm Xmas vigil on Sunday, does that count for both Masses of obligation (since we are obliged to go on Sunday and other days of obligation). The answer is NO; no double-dipping allowed. Of the six Masses listed above, one must attend two of them (one fulfilling the 4th Sun of Advent obligation and one fulfilling the Christmas obligation).

Thank You!

Thank you to all who helped make this Advent and beginning of Christmas so lovely. The musicians, the sacristans, servers, lectors, and those who helped decorate. Thank you to everyone who helped with the giving tree, the Ladies Guilds bake sale, and all those who volunteer themselves giving generously to the parish.

January 1 is NOT Obligatory this Year

While January 1 is holy day celebrating Mary as the Mother of God, it is not obligatory this year since it falls on a Monday. So our schedule will not have any extra Mass times. Monday January 1 will have the 8:30am as usual. Even if Mass is not obligatory, honoring Our Lady is always called for. So let’s make sure we do something special to honor her as we begin this new year.

Epiphany Water Blessing

It has become customary for our parish to celebrate the traditional blessing of water on the Vigil of Epiphany. At this blessing I bless all the water needed for the entire year that will be used for our holy water fonts and for the blessing of religious object as well as house blessings, etc. Holy water and in particular, “Epiphany water” is a particularly efficacious sacramental to aid us in prayer as well as spiritual combat. Thus is requires a substantial blessing. The ceremony last a good forty minutes and is quite beautiful. Feel free to bring any water you would like blessed. If you do, please bring large containers (at least a gallon size) with easily removable caps. If you have other items to bless (Salt, oil, religious items, etc), I will bless those as well. The blessing will begin at 6:15pm on Friday, January 5.

Next Week Holy Hour and Confessions Between Masses

Next Sunday, January 7, please join us for some time of adoration. Immediately following the 8am Mass there will be adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until 10:15. During that time I will be available for the sacrament of confession as well. Not a bad way to continue our New Year’s resolutions.

Sincerely in Christ, Fr. Pfr