This weekend we welcome Fr. Eugene O’Reilly to St. Mary’s to lead us in our parish mission. As we begin our three-year celebration leading up to our 175th anniversary, there is no better way to begin our celebration than by learning and growing more in love with Jesus. To do that during this busy season we need to set some time apart. This week we are offering you that opportunity. Fr. Gene will bring all of us into a deeper awareness and understanding of Jesus’ love for us through his beautiful ministry. I promise that committing to this mission is exactly what all of us need.
During these nights, each of us will have the opportunity to look at our own lives and grow in the love of Christ. We will have the opportunity to find the compassion of Christ. We will have the chance to encounter mercy and forgiveness. Our Day of Mercy will be taking place during the Mission in which we will have 24 hours of Reconciliation, and Eucharistic Adoration. Throughout the 24 hours you are invited to take advantage of prayer, quiet time, Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, the gift of Divine Mercy. With all of the stress and preparations that many of us are already being overcome by, our Mission and Day of Mercy are opportunities to take the stress out of life. When we place Jesus as a priority, everything else does fall into place.
Fr. Gene will be preaching at our 9 am morning mass on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. These talks will be a little less intense mission talk than the evening mission talk. Each evening, Fr. Gene will present at 7 pm in the church. The evening sessions last about one hour and focus on a specific topic each evening.
Monday: Intimacy… with God/Self
Tuesday: Beatitudes, Kingdom of Light vs. Darkness
Wednesday: Eucharist/Discipleship… Mary, the first disciple
Day of Mercy Schedule:
Tuesday: Vigil Mass for Immaculate Conception – 6 pm.
7 pm – Fr. Gene Mission talk
8 pm – Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament – Confessions begin
Wednesday: 7 am Mass
9 am Mass – Fr. Gene preachinig
6:45 pm – Benediction
7:00 pm – Mission Talk – Confessions conclude
Just in case you need more prayer time or another opportunity for reconciliation, each Tuesday of Advent we will have Eucharistic Adoration at 7 pm with the Rosary and confessions available. Benediction will take place at 8pm.
Now is the time to prepare. The best way to do that is to spend some time with us at St. Mary’s this week. Also, don’t forget next week is Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent, so wear some pink to celebrate our rejoicing!
Keep Smiling
Fr. Bryan