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My brothers and sisters,
With “Fall back weekend” now behind us, we enter the busiest season of Church life. A couple of things to highlight:
GRATITUDE: Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving Day both drive us to a deep sense of gratitude. The fragility of the human condition in the face of great adversity moved the hearts of early settlers to thank God for survival of the first year, marked by a bountiful harvest. President Lincoln would make Thanksgiving Day a holiday more than 200 years later in the wake of a war that killed so many Americans and nearly ruined a Republic.
Fr. Valan and I approach this Thanksgiving with gratitude for your welcome, encouragement, and great faith in our first year in your midst. We continue to rejoice in the opportunity to serve as your priests.
Proceeding from Armistice Day (November 11, 1918), which ended the “War to End All Wars”, the nation joined much of the world in marking the end of a war that brought great death on a global scale. Now, since World War I’s nickname proved incorrect, we use this day to honor the constant sacrifice and honorable witness of the many veterans who’ve served our nation and, truly, our world. “Thank you for your service”, shall never be idle words.
HOLY DAYS AND HOLIDAYS: The collaborative parishes mark THANKSGIVING with four (4) Masses: Wednesday, November 27, 6pm at St. Eulalia; Thursday, November 28th, 6:45 am and 5:30 pm at St. Mary and 9:00 am at St. Eulalia.
This year and next, the Solemnity of THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION will be observed on Monday as a Holy Day of Obligation. Masses for 2024 will be on Monday, December 9 at 6:30 am and 5:30 pm at St. Mary, and at 9:00 am and 6:00 pm at St. Eulalia.
The full CHRISTMAS schedule will be distributed many times, but for early planners here at St. Mary’s Mass times are: Tuesday, December 24, 4 pm in the Upper Church and Mary Chapel, and 10 pm Upper Church. On Wednesday, December 25, 8 am, 10 am, and 11:30 am, all in Upper Church.
NEW YEAR’S DAY is a Holy Day of Obligation as well. We will follow the usual collaborative Holy Day schedule. Tuesday, December 31, 6 pm at St. Eulalia (no 5:30 pm Mass at St. Mary’s that day), and Wednesday, January 1, 6:30 am and 5:30 pm at St. Mary and 9 am at St. Eulalia.
GRAND ANNUAL COLLECTION: Critically important to our financial planning and success is this collection. So many people count themselves as Catholics. This is the time for everyone to step forward and support the presence of St. Mary’s in the midst of the community whether you attend Mass daily/ weekly, attend less frequently, or simply want the Church to be there for your when needs arise. I thank you in advance for receiving prayerfully and responding generously to this upcoming appeal.
In His service and yours,
Fr. Paul Clifford