Posted on January 31, 2026 View all news
The Church dedicates the month of February to the Holy Family, and it is fitting that she does so at this quieter point in the year. The feasts and joy of Christmastide have passed, and yet the Lord remains hidden—living a life of obedience, work, prayer, and fidelity within the home of Nazareth. These years of silence were not incidental. They were essential.
The Holy Family reminds us that holiness is most often formed not in extraordinary moments, but in daily faithfulness: in patience, sacrifice, and perseverance when little is seen or celebrated. In an age that prizes immediacy and visibility, the hidden life of Nazareth teaches us the enduring power of constancy and trust in God’s providence.
This month is an especially fitting time to entrust our families to the care of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Many families today carry unseen burdens, yet the Holy Family assures us that no quiet offering is ever wasted. In a particular way, we also entrust the Oratory itself to the Holy Family. As St. John Henry Newman once described it, the Oratory is a domestic circle—a family bound together by prayer, charity, and fidelity to Christ.
On Monday, February 2, we celebrate the Feast of the Purification, also known as the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. On this day, Our Lady humbly submits to the Law, and Christ is presented in the Temple, where Simeon proclaims Him to be a light for the nations. God’s promises are revealed not with spectacle, but through obedience and trust. It is on this feast that candles are traditionally blessed, reminding us that Christ remains the Light who endures through the darkness.
If you wish to have candles blessed, please arrive at the evening Sung Mass (6:30 p.m.) at least fifteen minutes early and ask a server to place them near the altar. Candles should be boxed and clearly labeled, and may be collected following Mass.
Later this month, on Wednesday, February 18, we enter the sacred season of Lent with Ash Wednesday. On this day the Church calls us to repentance and renewal through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Ash Wednesday is a day of fast and abstinence. Fasting binds those aged 18 to 59, and abstinence from meat binds those aged 14 and older. Those who are ill or have serious health concerns are dispensed from these obligations. Ash Wednesday Mass times are as follows: at Old St. Mary’s — 7:15 a.m. (Low Latin), 12:10 p.m. (English), and 6:30 p.m. (Sung Latin). At Sacred Heart — 9:00 a.m. (Low Latin).
Be assured of my prayers for you and your families. May the Holy Family watch over our homes and lead us into a holy and fruitful Lent.
