Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

“The anniversary of a church’s dedication is celebrated with the rank of a solemnity.” – Roman Pontifical, Rite of Dedication of a Church, 27.

Annually, Holy Mother Church invites us to recall the day our church buildings were consecrated and dedicated to the worship of God. That dedication/consecration Mass marked the moment this space was changed from being merely a building into becoming a church – a true, holy place of worship. If you were present on that night of 2 February 2015, you might recall the first action of the Bishop was to sprinkle the people, the walls, and the altar with blessed water. This symbolized the moment of your own baptism, that exact moment when you went from being a “regular person” to becoming a true temple of God, a temple of the Holy Spirit. (See 1 Corinthians 3:16-17) At most Masses this weekend, we will again sprinkle the gathered people with holy water as a reminder of this change and our subsequent mission to spread the faith beyond these humble walls.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Next Sunday, our parish will not celebrate the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Instead, the Church asks us to recall the date of our parish church’s consecration for divine worship, and she provides special prayers and readings for the Mass. (The liturgical observance is transferred to the closest Sunday so more people can join in the celebration.) Recalling our dedication year-to-year helps remind us of our mission as a local parish within the world-wide Catholic Church. Pray for our parish that we fulfill our mission well, which is always ultimately to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to each of our homes, to Aiken, to our nation, and beyond.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This Saturday, January 22, is a voluntary day of fastng and prayer for Respect for Human Life. Each human being is made in the image and likeness of God, regardless of age or even stage of development. God Himself revealed this by taking on human fesh in the Virgin Mary’s womb, a reality we have just celebrated in the season of Christmas. There never was a tme that His miraculous concepton and gestaton could have been considered “not human enough” or “not human yet.” Saint John the Baptst even leaped at the presence of Jesus, newly conceived, in the womb of his own mother, St. Elizabeth. In the words of Mother Teresa, “Any country that accepts aborton is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. This is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is aborton.”

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Before all else, we should show gratitude. I am grateful first to God for His gift of you and our outstanding parish. We pray for God’s gracious blessings as we begin a new year of grace. I know that I speak for all of you when I also express our immense gratitude to all the “angels and elves” (as they like to be called), who did such an outstanding job decorating the church for the Christmas season. They are truly dedicated and bring such joy to their work!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This year, we arrive a little early to the Epiphany of the Lord, a.k.a., Three Kings Day. Traditionally celebrated on the Twelfth Day of Christmas (Jan. 6), liturgically in the United States and some other countries, it is moved to its closest Sunday after Jan. 1.

The word “epiphany” comes from a Greek word that means “manifestation,” i.e., making something known. From the Catechism:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Merry Christmas! We have only just begun our Church’s Christmas season, so “Merry Christmas!” is still our appropriate greeting for each other at least through Epiphany. They call it the twelve days of Christmas for a reason… They even wrote a song about it!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we celebrate today the Fourth Sunday of Advent, I sometimes get the question, “Where are the Christmas decorations? The poinsettias? The greenery?” While homes often decorate after Thanksgiving Day (or Halloween, these days), Catholic churches do not because it is Advent, not yet Christmas. You’ll see a few wreaths up by now and possibly some bare trees, but we save the good stuff for the Christmas season, which begins the evening of the 24th and goes through the Baptism of the Lord in January. Our “elves” are making plans and are ready to decorate, and I promise you’ll see a riot of Yuletide colors when you arrive for Christmas Masses!

Dear Brother and Sisters in Christ,

Because of our often busy schedules, we all like (and need) to plan ahead. With that, I bring you our schedule for Masses for Christmas and the Christmas season:

First, please note that on Christmas Day, Saturday, December 25, we will have no confessions or the usual 5pm Mass.

Christmas Eve Masses - 12/24: 4pm, 6pm, & 8pm (in Spanish)

Christmas Midnight Mass - begins at 12 Midnight

Christmas Day Mass - 12/25: 10am

For Sunday, Dec. 26 (Holy Family Sunday), Mass times are like a normal Sunday.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Wednesday, December 8, we joyfully celebrate a special Holy Day of Obligation – the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Masses are: Vigil, 7 Dec. at 5:30pm; and 8 Dec. at 8:20am, 12noon, 5:30pm, and 7pm in Spanish. We celebrate the conception of Mary in the womb of St. Ann, her mother – one of the supreme preparations God made for His Son to literally take flesh from Mary at the Incarnation. By preserving Mary at the first moment of her existence (her conception) from the original sin of Adam and Eve, Mary was made pure and ready for the later overshadowing of the Holy Spirit at the Annunciation. On May 13, 1846, the United States bishops unanimously chose the Virgin Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception as patroness of our country. Come pray for your family and our nation on this important Holy Day.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Happy New (Church) Year! Each Advent, we disciples begin a new liturgical year. Our Lectionary Cycle (i.e., the Sunday Gospel readings) changes to Year C, which means most of our Gospel readings this year will come from the Gospel according to St. Luke. Luke was a physician by trade who did not grow up in the Jewish faith. He was a Gentile converted to Christianity and became a companion of St. Paul. In addition to composing his Gospel account, Saint Luke also wrote the Acts of the Apostles, a sort-of “sequel” to his Gospel. Although St. Paul wrote more books, Luke’s two contributions are long enough that they actually make up a greater percentage of the New Testament (about 24%) than those of any other author. Because of his emphasis on the Virgin Mary and women in general, St. Luke has been called the “Marian Gospel” and the “Gospel of women.” Luke is also known to emphasize Jesus’ love of the poor and sick. His Gospel has additionally been called the “Gospel of mercy” and the “Gospel of forgiveness.” Pay special attention to these attributes as we make our way through Luke’s amazing Gospel.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Be thankful: This Thursday, November 25, we will have a special Mass at 9:00am in the church for Thanksgiving Day. (Note that there will be no confessions nor a 5:30pm Mass this day.) As is our custom, a collection will be taken up at this Mass, all of which will go to benefit the poor and those in need.

Today, we “crown” our liturgical year with this Solemnity of Jesus Christ the King. Next Sunday is the 1st Sunday of Advent and a new liturgical year – Year C in the Lectionary cycle. During Year C, most of the Sunday Gospels will come from St. Luke. Advent marks the perfect time to make a new spiritual beginning with new spiritual resolutions. Begin with real, concrete, dedicated time for prayer. Everything else will flow from that.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Please note that beginning the 1st Sunday of Advent (November 28), the time for the Mass in Spanish will move from 12:30pm to 1:00pm. This will ease the “pressure” of the transition between Masses and give more time for confessions and the holy rosary before Mass.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

For 2,000 years, the Catholic Church has learned how to lovingly and respectfully say goodbye to our dearly departed loved ones. Together with our Jewish roots, the Church truly knows how to help people grieve. Remember, it’s ok to mourn. Even Jesus wept at the death of His friend, Lazarus. (See John 11:35.)