Now is the Day of Salvation

01-28-2024Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today, Christ addresses us with His forceful cry, without doubts and with authority: “Quiet! Come out of him!” (Mk 1:25). He speaks to the spirits that live within us and prevent us from being free, as God has created and desired us to be.

Perhaps you may know that the first rule the founders of religious orders set up when establishing community life, is often that of silence: in a house where prayer is needed, silence and contemplation must reign. As the adage goes: “Noise makes no good, good makes no noise.” This is why Christ commands that evil spirit to be silent, because its duty is to surrender to the Word, who “became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” (John 1:14) The evil spirits have no option but to obey the command of our Lord.

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An Update on our School

01-21-2024Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

St. Mary’s Catholic School has been back in session for about three weeks now. Enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year has begun, and interest is high at this point! If you have a child that you wish to enroll, please pick up an application located at the school office, in the narthex, or online at excelatstmarys.com. If you would like to find out more information first and learn more about our school, please call the school office to schedule a tour or visit the next open house on Friday, February 2nd from 9 am to 11 am. All active parishioners automatically receive tuition discounts and have access to payment plans. If you desire additional tuition assistance, please apply early!

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Parish Mission, Jan 22-26, 2024

01-14-2024Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

By the time you read this, we will be two weeks into the New Year! That’s hard for me to believe. The flip of that calendar page from December to January causes many of us to reflect on the past year and look to the new one with hope and optimism, considering changes in your life.

This would be a good time to attend our parish mission! From January 22nd to January 26th, we will be blessed to have Mr. Kyle Clement, SMD here for a five day parish mission.

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Following the star…

01-07-2024Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

The route of the Magi is a symbol of our path to Christ. Almost always we come from afar, across the desert of faith, surrounded by darkness. Some of us get disoriented, others get lost, some give up, but a few lift their eyes up to the sky and in the middle of the night discover the star. When we find the star, we must follow it with all hope and to persevere to the end. The Magi set out on their way, and they asked, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East and have come to worship him.” (Matt 2:2)

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Our Holy Families

12-31-2023Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today, we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family. Our gaze shifts from the center of the nativity scene—Jesus—to contemplate Mary and Joseph close to Him. The eternal Son of the Father goes from the eternal family, which is the Holy Trinity, to the earthly family formed by Mary and Joseph. How important the family must be in the eyes of God when the first thing He provides for His Son is a family!

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The baby Jesus awaits us…

12-24-2023Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today a great light shines - the light of God’s love. Even though 2000 years have passed by, this still is the “Holy Night.” The only good news that can remove the fears of man today and can fill the soul with joy are those brought by the angels to the shepherds: “The Savior has been born!” Christmas night, good night, holy night! We feel great emotion as we face this mystery. Tonight, everything is big and at the same time, small.

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Live fully...rejoice in the Lord!

12-17-2023Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

We want to celebrate Christ's coming with a new heart and enormous joy. That is one of principal meanings of Advent. We should ask ourselves if we have done all that we were supposed to: Have I announced the good news of the Gospel to the poor? Have I mended broken hearts? Have I proclaimed pardon to the captive ones? Have I brought liberty to prisoners? We run the risk of living in a world of light and yet, not see, because of pure routine. Saint John reminds us to be on guard: “Among you stands one whom you do not know...”

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Preparing the Way of the Lord

12-10-2023Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

We know that the Lord will come, but when? How? Like a thief, says St. Paul: when least expected. Some believe that the Lord is slow to fulfill his promise. Really though, it’s just that he is in no hurry but is patiently waiting for all of us to repent; he wants to find us at peace with Him.

Throughout history, hermits have attracted the crowds. Many were prophets who “proclaimed the meaning of human reality” but who also “interpreted it.” This is what happened with John the Baptist, who was among the people, awakening messianic hopes. John is the voice crying out in the wilderness. The content of his preaching coincides perfectly with Christ's. What is the relationship we find between John and Christ? St. Augustine said it beautifully: “It's the relationship between voice and speech. John is the voice, Christ is the Word; the first is a sound; the second is the speech, the message, the fullness of the truth.”

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Those who walk in darkness have seen a great light…

12-03-2023Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

We are moving towards a celebration that touches the heart: Christmas. Advent, which begins today, is the suitable time to prepare for Christ's coming by practicing works of mercy and setting our hearts on the eternal rather than the things of this world.

Sometimes we look at our existence as a kind of night. It can be long and dark when we look at our powerlessness, our weakness, and our sins, but this does not mean we are “children of darkness.” We are waiting for a personal visit from Jesus, and this obliges us to be attentive to “the signs of the times” that indicate the closeness of the big day. Certainly, Christ has already come in the very first Christmas. And now he is coming back, here where I am, in what I do, if my heart is ready to welcome his way of coming as a light. In the Christmas Mass, Isaiah tells us, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.”

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The Kingdom and the Cross

11-26-2023Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

On the last Sunday of the year, the Feast of Christ the King, we focus on Christ as King of the universe, yet He was a man condemned to die on a cross. What a mysterious paradox! The Kingdom announced by the prophets has already come! Where is this Kingdom? Here, in the midst of us! Within us! What is this Kingdom like? Christ makes it clear to us over and over again: “My Kingdom is not of this world!” (John 18:36) “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them...It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant,” (Matthew 20:25-26)

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Children of the Light and of the Day

11-19-2023Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

The three readings from today’s mass challenge us to do good work, be wise in our activity and to know how to take advantage of our time, because we never know when our time will run out. The parable Christ tells us sets the tone for today’s biblical message: we must use well the gifts we have received, not just by spending all our talents, but by multiplying their fruits.

There is a Castilian saying that goes: “Praying to God, but still swinging the hammer.” (A Dios rogando y con el mazo dando.) Faith is one of the talents that we must invest. We are each beneficiaries of something more valuable than the huge quantities of money mentioned in the parable. To bury it in mere fulfillment of the law, in routine, or to hide it would make us worthy of the Lord’s condemnation. Rather, we must live our faith, nourish it, give testimony to it, and share it.

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Keep those lamps lit!

11-12-2023Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today, we are invited to mull over the purpose of our existence: it is a warning from the God about our ultimate end. We should not therefore, play with life. “The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.” (Matthew 25:1).The end of each person will depend on the path chosen. Death is a consequence of the life —wise or foolish— that has been led in this world. Foolish maidens are those who have heard Jesus' message but have not put it into practice. Wise maidens are those who have incorporated it into their lives; that's why they enter the wedding feast of the Kingdom.

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Update on Our Catholic School

11-05-2023Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

The construction of our STEM Center at our parish school is progressing and remains on schedule! The footings are poured, and concrete block has arrived on site! More visible progress should be noticeable soon! Over fall break the installation of our new PA system began throughout our entire campus. This new system will tie into our new STEM Center seamlessly. Not only does it improve communication between rooms, but it also enhances announcements, bell schedule changes, and increases security on campus.

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