Our Good Shepard

04-25-2021Pastor's LetterRev. Gregory B. Wilson

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Traditionally, this Fourth Sunday of Easter is Good Shepherd Sunday. We need a guide in our troubled world. May we, as His sheep, always open our hearts and minds to the true paths laid out by our Good Shepherd.

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Alleluia! Alleluia!

04-18-2021Pastor's LetterRev. Gregory B. Wilson

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christ is risen! Truly, He is risen! Alleluia! We continue the great season of Easter. Forty days of fast has given way to fifty days of feast. This celebration of the Resurrection of Christ will continue through Pentecost on May 23.

I wanted to briefly recap some of the major points of my recent letter regarding some changes to our virus-related protocols. (You can read the full letter on the homepage of our website.) First, please continue to wear your mask/ face covering while inside the body of the church. It should cover both your nose and mouth at the same time.

- Holy water is back! In a report released Feb. 21: The “CDC is not aware of any scientific reports of the virus that causes COVID-19 spreading to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, water playgrounds, or other treated aquatic venues.” Making the Sign of the Cross with holy water at the doors of our churches is a very long tradition, reminding us of our Baptism. A good prayer to say while doing it: “I have been washed in the Blood of the Lamb, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” (Of course, if you are still uncomfortable, recall that it is not strictly necessary to exercise this devotion.)

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It's True - He Is Risen!

04-04-2021Pastor's LetterRev. Gregory B. Wilson

I don’t say this lightly: Everything hinges on the fact of what we celebrate today. Everything.

In Jesus Christ, the eternal, Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity – God who is without beginning, without end – took human flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary, was born in time, was scourged, died a horrible death in front of hundreds of onlookers, and was buried. Humanly speaking, that should’ve been the end.

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Take a Walk in His Shoes

03-28-2021Pastor's LetterRev. Gregory B. Wilson

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week. These are the sacred days that define who we are as Christians – as disciples. Come, walk with Jesus in His final steps. Some spiritual advice: Don’t try to “find time” to attend these important events. You won’t “find” it. We must make time to spend with Him like we do with anyone we love. See the full schedule in this bulletin. Some highlights of the week:

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Everyone Needs to Forgive Someone

03-21-2021Pastor's LetterRev. Gregory B. Wilson

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

“The practice of covering crosses and images throughout the church from this Sunday may be observed." 

The Roman Missal, Fifth Sunday of Lent

We delve ever more deeply into our Lenten observance with a “fasting for the eyes.” Today, we veil crosses and images of Jesus and His Saints. Have we taken these images for granted? On Good Friday the Cross will be solemnly unveiled once more. Then at Easter, all veils will be removed as the Resurrection of Our Lord gives us renewed access to eternal, heavenly realities with unveiled eyes.

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You Deserve a Break Today

03-14-2021Pastor's LetterRev. Gregory B. Wilson

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Knowing human nature as well as she does, the Church gives us a few “breaks” during Lent to keep our spirits up and to encourage us to keep going.

The first break is today – Laetare (Rejoice) Sunday, the halfway point of our forty-day journey in the Lenten desert. This day takes its name from the opening words of the Mass’ introit: “Laetare, Jerusalem …”“Rejoice, Jerusalem… Be joyful, all who were in mourning!” (From Isaiah 66:10-11).

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Thirsting For Jesus

03-07-2021Pastor's LetterRev. Gregory B. Wilson

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

First, an update on the location of Perpetual Adoration: A couple of weeks ago, an electrical problem in Old St. Mary’s made it necessary for us to move Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (back) to St. Claire Chapel. Thanks to everyone for your flexibility, and thank you for taking the precautions necessary to allow us to continue Adoration during the pandemic, even in a smaller space. By the time you read this, repairs to Old St. Mary’s should have begun. We hope to have our beloved old church up and running again soon.

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Transfigured in Faith

02-28-2021Pastor's LetterRev. Gregory B. Wilson

Often, we have questions about our Catholic faith. Even lifelong Catholics sometimes have unanswered questions about things like God’s existence, why bother going to Confession and Mass, why we believe that a Consecrated Host is actually Jesus, and more that we know maybe a little bit about or have heard about from other people, but we can’t quite make sense of it all. This creates a kind of “spiritual dissonance” within us. Rather than look up the answers with good, Catholic resources, we often let the questions fester and go about our lives, perhaps afraid of the answers. Understanding more about the existence of God and the divine origins of the Church might have serious implications for how we are living our lives. While ignorance may be “bliss,” as the saying goes, it won’t get you to heaven or give you true peace here in this life.

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Into the Desert...

02-21-2021Pastor's LetterRev. Gregory B. Wilson

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This gift of time we call Lent has the potential to supercharge our faith, hope, and love…only if we will humble ourselves and open our hearts to Our Lord. If you’re still wondering what to do this year (or if you totally forgot) it’s not too late! Start right now. Some ideas based on Jesus’ words from Ash Wednesday: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Think of one thing from each category and do each thing well. The holy rosary is always a great choice. Perhaps commit to a weekly or bi-weekly Holy Hour of Adoration in front of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Even better, consider daily Mass two or three times a week. Whatever you choose, the important thing is to stop what you are doing and get busy with the affairs of God, giving Him your time. With humility, you can’t go wrong.

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Invitation – Rediscover Jesus

02-14-2021Pastor's LetterRev. Gregory B. Wilson

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Our annual Church-wide retreat has arrived! All the Baptized around the world enter into the cleansing desert of Lent this Ash Wednesday, February 17. Mass times with distribution of ashes: 6:30am, 8:20am (school), 12pm-noon, 5:30pm (livestream), and 7pm in Spanish. A slight modification this year: In order to limit speaking within a close distance, the priest at Mass will say the penitential phrase only once out loud for everyone just before the distribution of ashes. Ashes will then be imposed on the forehead in silence. Recall that ashes are not a sacrament, so if you are uncomfortable receiving them, there is no obligation to do so. God sees our repentance without ashes.

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World Day of the Sick

02-07-2021Pastor's LetterRev. Gregory B. Wilson, VF

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It’s almost that time again – our annual, Church-wide period of retreat and reflection called Lent. Ash Wednesday is Wednesday, February 17. As long as we’ve celebrated Easter, the Church has set aside a period of time to properly prepare us for it.

Through Lent, we better come to experience what is known as the Paschal/Passover mystery of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. “For Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). In Exodus (chapter 12) we read how the blood of a sacrificed lamb spread on the doorpost of the homes of the Israelites caused the tenth plague of Egypt – the death of the firstborn – to literally “pass over” their houses. So now, Jesus, the true Lamb, has been sacrificed. His Precious Blood covers you and me as temples of God in order to forgive us and to save us from the eternal death, which we deserve because of our sins. For so great a gift beyond value, our preparation to celebrate this mystery is a small thing to ask.

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