Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ,

His Church, and All People

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

COME, LORD JESUS, COME! - Maranatha! 

This Year December 9 is a Holy Day of Obligation 

You may have heard rumblings and conflicting or at least confusing reports about the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.   If you want to go down the rabbit hole of why it’s an issue, be my guest.  But as it is, this feast is a holy day of obligation, but December 8 falls on Sunday this year, so the feast is bumped to the next day December 9th.   Also bumped with it is its obligatory status.  So, this year December 9th IS a Holy Day of obligation.  Like all obligatory days, one must participate at Mass (as they would on a Sunday) and can only miss if there is a grave reason. Due to the odd timing of this one, there will be no anticipatory Mass on Sunday evening.  The Immaculate Conception Holy Day schedule is:

Monday December 9 @ 7am - English (low mass, chanted)

Monday December 9 @ 8:30am - English (chanted w/ organ)

Monday December 9 @ 6pm - Latin (chanted w/ organ & incense) 

Advent Spiritual Opportunities  

Confessions at Nativity Parish - December 10 @ 5-6pm 

This is a cluster confession opportunity.  I along with other area priests will be at Nativity parish to hear confessions.

The Rosary in Song - Thursday, December 12 @ 7pm in Church

Join us as the Chesterton Academy of Akron choir leads us in a sung rosary.  It is so appropriate to let our Blessed Mother guide us as we prepare for Christmas. How fitting too since December 12 is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.   

Faith Formation - Sunday, December 15 @ 9:15-10:15 in PAC

This month’s topic is entitled: It’s not Pink! It’s Rose!: Gaudete Sunday and the Joy of the Christian Life.  So often our world either suppresses joy, or offers a counterfeit that does not satisfy.  Join us as we examine the true Christian gift that is JOY!

Confessions at Queen of Heaven Parish - December 17 @ 5-6pm 

This is a cluster confession opportunity.  I along with other area priests will be at Queen of Heaven parish to hear confessions.

Traditional Candlelit Rorate Caeli Mass – December 21 @ 7am

Join us as we prepare in these final days for Christ’s birth by drawing close to His Mother. It is traditional to offer a votive Mass in honor of Our Lady on a Saturday of Advent.  To further emphasize the anticipation, we all have for the dawning of a new day in Christ, the holy eagerness Mary had to bring forth God’s Son, we begin Mass while it is still dark with the church lit only with candles.   During the Mass the sun rises and begins to light the church as a powerful reminder that we desire Christ to shine into our hearts to bring salvation to the world.

May God bless you and Mary keep you.

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Pfr