Posted on July 9, 2017 View all news
Laudetur Jesus Christus! Gelobt sei Jesus Christus! Sia lodato Gesù Cristo! Praised be Jesus Christ!
First of all, a big thank you to everyone who helped make the parish anniversary such a special day for everyone. Without a lot of help, we could not do what we do here. I deeply appreciate all of the help and assistance we are given to make our Parish what it is.
Two of the three big things I was expecting this year have now been completed. First, the establishment of the Oratory, ensuring future Priests for our historic Parish. Secondly, the 175th Anniversary of our Parish. The last thing that we continue to hope and pray for is the designation of Old St. Mary’s as a Basilica. Please continue to keep this in your prayers. The application made its way to Rome in February, so I am expecting to hear something sometime this Fall. If this application is successful, we will have one of the most historic years in Old St. Mary’s history. Thank you, again, for making Old St. Mary’s what it is!
A few final notes: please don’t forget about our Adoration here at the Parish. This is offered for your benefit, to be able to spend quiet time in prayer before the Lord. Even if you can’t sign up for a specific hour, please feel free to drop in during any of our scheduled hours. In particular, remember about our Parish Holy Hour on Tuesday’s from 7:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. This Holy Hour includes the Rosary and the availability for confession. These things are offered so that you have easy access to the Lord. The Priests and Brothers have regular access to Adoration and the Sacrament of Penance. Making these times available to you is so that you also have easy access. So please take advantage of these opportunities!
Also, please note that we will be skipping our annual Parish picnic this year. We decided at Parish Council to forego the picnic, because of how close the date is to the 175th Anniversary. We will resume our regular Parish picnic next year.
Please find this excerpt from St. Francis de Sales. Have a blessed week ahead!
“The Saviour instituted the most holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, really containing His Body and His Blood, in order that they who eat it might live for ever. And therefore whosoever receives it frequently and devoutly, so strengthens the health and life of his soul, that it is hardly possible for him to be poisoned by any evil desires. We cannot be fed by that Living Flesh and hold to the affections of death; and just as our first parents could not die in Paradise, because of the Tree of Life which God had placed therein, so this Sacrament of Life makes spiritual death impossible. The most fragile, easily spoilt fruits, such as cherries, apricots, and strawberries, can be kept all the year by being preserved in sugar or honey; so what wonder if our hearts, frail and weakly as they are, are kept from the corruption of sin when they are preserved in the sweetness (“sweeter than honey and the honeycomb”) of the Incorruptible Body and Blood of the Son of God.” – St. Francis de Sales