Feast of Mary, Mother of God (Theotokos - God Bearer)

One of my favorite extra-Sunday feasts is that of Mary, the Mother of God, celebrated around the globe on January 1st every year (No that Mass you see listed each year on the 1st is NOT a New Year's Mass!). I love especially the imagery that is called up by the Eastern Title of Theotokos or 'God Bearer' for Mary. The Old testament presents us a number of interesting images for how God's promised salvation is to the world, the Ark in which the one righteous family of Noah provides hope for the future, the little basket of reeds that carried Moses down the Nile safely so that he could bring salvation to his people in God's name, the great golden...

Read more »

Fr. Barron on Christmas

Our struggle as Christians is to fit this subversive image of the infant, swaddled and impoverished king into the very domesticated form of our world's modern version Christmas...

Read more »

The Nativity of Our Lord and the Feast of the Holy Family

So many of the great figures of our Advent preparations, John the Baptist, Mary, and Joseph, have served as examples of self-sacrifice, faith and obedience to God's Word. These are people who heard the Word of God, whispered, dreamed and shouted into their lives and were moved to respond. They underline for us just how important it is that we do not simply sit back, and enjoy the celebrations, good-will and peace that the Nativity of our Lord and King has heralded in, but that we actively and concretely respond to the Word whose birth we have just witnessed.Today, on this Feast of the Holy Family, a feast which highlights how the family of Jesus...

Read more »

A Christmas Message from Fr. Barron

Matthew's genealogy of the Christ presents a variety of very surprising and unexpected men and women who underline just what kind of people are invited to be joined to the family of the savior...

Read more »

Prayers for Christmas Day

Though we've spent the past four weeks preparing for the Lord's coming, we cannot forget the deep spiritual significance of all we do throughout the feast of Christmas. As you and your family and friends share gifts of love with one another and gather for the great feasting and celebrating that this season deserves, here are a few prayers to help you center yourselves on the great love God has for us in sending His only Son to be our Lord, our King, our Christ;From The Liturgy of the Hours (The Divine Office) for Christmas Day:Almighty God and Father of light,a child is born for us and a son is given to us.Your eternal Word leaped down from...

Read more »

Fourth Week of Advent - The Miracle of Jesus

Even as the world around us has filled with the hustle and bustle of the season of giving, we have worked together to still our souls, de-clutter our lives, and lift our hearts and minds to God so as to prepare a fitting space for the light of Christ to be born within us. In the midst of dark and cold, an angel's voice rings out with hope to a world in desparate need, and a new mother's cry pierces the night inflaming our hearts with her love.Let us pray; “Lord, fill our hearts with your love,and as you revealed to us by an angel the coming of your Son, so lead us through his suffering and death to the glory of his resurrection, for he lives...

Read more »

THE DIGITAL STORY OF NATIVITY - ( or Christmas 2.0 )

One of our teachers emailed this to the office just today, and like all of the Good News...it just screams to be shared! Enjoy;THE DIGITAL STORY OF NATIVITY - ( or Christmas 2.0 )Peace and God Bl...

Read more »

Third Week of Advent - The Word Among Us

The Third Sunday of Advent has been traditionally known as "Gaudete" or "Rejoicing" Sunday. Why rejoicing? Kids get this far easier than adults. For them, the anticipation is building so much that by this point they're about to burst! Christmas is almost here! The Messiah is close, the Word soon will be made flesh. Are we ready? Is His space prepared?Let us pray;“Lord God, may we, your people, who look forward to the birthday of Christ experience the joy of salvation and celebrate that feast with love and thanksgiving. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and...

Read more »

Prayers of Intercession - Sunday December 12, 2010

  PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 12, 2010   OUR RESPONSE TODAY: Come Lord Jesus, Come.   Let us pray for the Church, called to make Jesus real to our brothers and sisters everywhere, We pray to you Lord, RESPONSE: Come, Lord Jesus Come.   Let us pray that as our youth plan their life's work, that they give prayerful consideration to the priesthood and religious life, We pray to you Lord, RESPONSE: Come, Lord Jesus Come.   Let us pray that our hearts be strengthened, for the coming of the Lord, We pray to you, Lord, RESPONSE: Come, Lord Jesus Come.   Let us pray for the joy filled children of our parish, as they journey through Advent, We pray to you Lord,...

Read more »

The Feast of The Immaculate Conception

December the 8th (Today) is the Feast of The Immaculate Conception.You can learn all about this feast honoring Mary at Churchyear.net - All About The Solemnity of the Immaculate ConceptionThe following prayer comes to us from the official prayer of the Church, the Liturgy of the Hours; Father, you prepared the Virgin Mary to be the worthy mother of your Son. You let her share beforehand in the salvation Christ would bring by his death, and kept her sinless from the first moment of her conception. Help us by her prayers to live in your presence without sin. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who...

Read more »

Prayers of the Faithful - December 5, 2010

  PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 5, 2010     Let us pray for all Christians, called to work together to prepare the way of the Lord, We pray to you Lord, RESPONSE: Lord, hear our prayer.   Let us pray that the atmosphere in our homes may be such as to develop a love for all things spiritual, We pray to you Lord, RESPONSE: Lord, hear our prayer.   Let us pray for the peace of which Isaiah dreamt and which the Spirit promises, We pray to you, Lord, RESPONSE: Lord, hear our prayer.   Let us pray for all those working to make the season more festive, for those in need, We pray to you Lord, RESPONSE: Lord, hear our prayer.   Let us pray for those...

Read more »

Feast of St. Nicholas - Candy Cane Blessing

December 6th is the day in the Church's tradition where we commemorate the death of St. Nicholas, bishop of Myra, a city in Lycia, a province of Asia Minor. Little is known about his save for a small collection of stories underling his great generosity as well as the fact that he attended the First Council of Nicaea in 325AD where our Creed was first adopted.At some point along the way, it bacame tradition in our Church to bless the sweets given to children during the Christmas season on the feast of this very popular saint. Today in our homes we will often gather in the evening to bless our festive candy canes on this feast before placing...

Read more »

Second Week of Advent - Hope for Change

As our Second week of Advent begins, our prayer of hope and deasire for peace continues. As you continue to share prayer with us, may you be truly blessed and may you receive the graces you need most from your Father who loves you.Let us pray; “God of power and mercy, open our hearts in welcome. Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy, so that we may share his wisdom and become one with him when he comes in glory, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen”Read Isaiah 11:1-10“On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The...

Read more »

Christmas Mass Times

To help with your Christmas and Holiday planning here are the times when our parish Community will be gathering to offer worship to God and share the Eucharist which is, of course, the focus and font of all our other celebrations and traditions;December 24- Anticipated Christmas Mass; 7:00 p.m.December 25: Midnight & 10:00 a.m. - Christmas Day; A Holy Day of ObligationDecember 26: 10:00 a.m. - Sunday Mass; Feast of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and JosephDecember 31: 5:00 p.m.; A Special Mass of Thanksgiving for the blessings of this past year...NOT an anticipated January 1st MassJanuary 1: 10:00 a.m.; Feast of Mary, Mother of God; A Holy...

Read more »

First Week of Advent - The Advent Wreath and Keeping Awake

As we reach the mid-point of our first week of hope-filled waiting and preparation the following two videos should be of great help. The first from Franciscan communications is a brief description of the Advent wreath and an explanation of where the tradition originated and how and why we use this rich symbol as a part of our Advent waiting.The Second is a brief reflection on some of the themes of this first week of Advent, brought to you by the folks at Catholic Digest. I hope you enjoy both of these and that your Advent preparations help you to create a space in heart and home for the birthing of our Lord;Peace and God Bl...

Read more »