Saturday evening will be a great chance for parishioners to come together in parish fellowship at the
2
nd
Annual Parish Block Party. I am grateful for the work and effort of the Planning Committee that brought this celebration to the community, as well as to the sponsors who generously supported the success of the Block Party. I am glad that parishioners, neighbors, friends, and guests can come together, and enjoy an evening here at St. Mary's. May God provide many other such events for the parishioners to gather at the parish
.
The Holy Spirit is at work moving the hearts and spirits of individuals, parishes, communities and believers. In speaking with brother priests, parishioners, and friends across the country, people are longing for hope and guidance these days so that the Church may more readily bring healing, bring comfort and bring hope in the midst of the challenges and demands before us as believers.
In praying about what the parish of St. Mary can do in prayer in response to clergy sexual abuse, we looked at the upcoming feasts in the liturgical calendar. Next
S
aturday, September 15, is the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.
The Passionist Nuns of St. Joseph Monastery in Kentucky website describes this beautiful feast....
"Devotion to the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady has its roots in Sacred Scripture and in Christian piety, which always associates the Blessed Mother with her suffering Son. Today's feast was introduced by the Servites in order to intensify devotion to Our Lady's Sorrows. In 1817 Pius VII - suffering grievously in exile but finally liberated by Mary's intercession - extended the feast to the universal Church.
The feast dates back to the 12th century. It was especially promoted by the Cistercians and the Servites, so much so that in the 14th and 15th centuries it was widely celebrated throughout the Catholic Church. In 1482 the feast was added to the Missal under the title of "Our Lady of Compassion." Pope Benedict XIII added it to the Roman Calendar in 1727 on the Friday before Palm Sunday. In 1913, Pope Pius X fixed the date on September 15. The title "Our Lady of Sorrows" focuses on Mary's intense suffering during the passion and death of Christ. "The Seven Dolors," the title by which it was celebrated in the 17th century, referred to the seven swords that pierced the Heart of Mary. The feast is like an octave for the birthday of Our Lady on September 8."
- Excerpted from Our Lady of Sorrows by Fr. Paul Haffner (Inside the Vatican, September 2004)
You are invited to pray with us
Saturday morning September 15
th
at the 8:00am Mass
where we will pray for victims of clergy sexual abuse. The celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows invites us to turn to our Blessed Mother in prayer, in hope and in devotion. May our prayers and the intercession of the Blessed Mother bring healing and peace to all who are weighed down by sorrow. This Mass at 8:00 AM will include special petitions and other prayers to strengthen and deepen our trust in God.
Our Religious Education program is making the final plans for the start of a wonderful year. Classes begin for the Religious
Education students on Sunday, September 16 as well as on Tuesday, September 18. For more information about how you can support and help the Religious Education program please contact Mrs. Jeannie Brunk, our Director of Religious Education, Mrs. Pat Schwarz, the Assistant Director or Sarah Campbell, the Administrative Assistant of the program.
Parishioners, friends, and neighbors are invited to the Fall Anointing Mass that will be celebrated on Sunday, September 23 at the 12:00 Noon Mass. Please note the information in the parish bulletin regarding this celebration of God's mercy and healing for our sisters and brothers in the Lord.
I invite you to pray the following
Prayer for Healing Victims of Abuse
:
God of endless love, ever caring, ever strong, always present, always just: You gave your only Son to save us by the blood of His cross. Gentle Jesus, shepherd of peace, join to your own suffering the pain of all who have been hurt in body, mind, and spirit by those who betrayed the trust placed in them. Hear our cries as we agonize over the harm done to our brothers and sisters. Breathe wisdom into our prayers, soothe restless hearts with hope, steady shaken spirits with faith: Show us the way to justice and wholeness, enlightened by truth and enfolded in your mercy. Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts, heal your people's wounds and transform our brokenness. Grant us courage and wisdom, humility and grace, so that we may act with justice and find peace in You. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
God bless you with an
Alleluia heart
this day.
