St. Michael's Hall and May Crowning

04-29-2018Pastor's LetterRev. Gregory B. Wilson, VF

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The recent completion of the south wing of the church courtyard brings an end to our project. The wing includes a hall (nearly exactly the same size as upper Smith Hall), a conference room, and what will soon be a small gift shop. In deciding what to call the wing, we went back to you, the parishioners, and what you voted for when naming the bells. The bells were named in order of most votes. The fifth most popular name was St. Michael. I hope you will enjoy your St. Michael Hall and Conference Room.

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Procession in Honor of Blessed Mother Help of Christians and Parish Picnic

04-22-2018Pastor's LetterRev. Gregory B. Wilson, VF

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

A great many of you asked about the book I referenced last Sunday in my homily. (Now, don't let the title mislead you – this is no self-help book in the way of our culture!) The title is Humility Rules: Saint Benedict's 12-Step Guide to Genuine Self Esteem by J. Augustine Wetta, O.S.B. Father Augustine is a Benedictine monk who teaches and coaches rugby at St. Louis Priory School in Missouri. He applies parts of the Rule of St. Benedict to everyday life. The "self esteem" he mentions is one deeply rooted in God's will for each of us. He uses extensive humor to make his point in a series of very short chapters that can be read each day. At the end of each, he gives a little "homework" from, "Make sure the last thing you read tonight before going to bed is Scripture," to, "Spare the life of a bug. Bonus points if it's a mosquito."

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The Sacrament of Confirmation and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

04-15-2018Pastor's LetterRev. Gregory B. Wilson, VF

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christ is risen! Truly, He is risen!

April and May can be some of the busiest months in a parish! The celebration of the glorious Resurrection of Christ leads to a flurry of holy activity. One of the greatest upcoming celebrations for our parish is the conferral of the Holy Sacrament of Confirmation. This Wednesday, April 18 at 7:00pm, we onceagain welcome our Bishop, the Most Rev. Robert E. Guglielmone, for Confirmation as almost fifty of our young men and women will be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit. During Confirmation, God the Holy Spirit comes upon us, just as at Pentecost when He descended upon Mary and the Apostles fifty days after Easter (see Acts 2:1–4). Please pray for each of our youth who will receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

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Divine Mercy Sunday - Joyful Easter Season

04-08-2018Pastor's LetterRev. Gregory B. Wilson, VF

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christ is risen! Truly, He is risen! For eight days we have been celebrating Easter Day, and today we come to the Octave (eighth) Day. In the Jubilee Year 2000, Pope St. John Paul II named this Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday.

As we continue to celebrate this joy-filled Easter Season, join us this afternoon, Sunday, April 8, at 2:30pm in the church for a special violin concert. Maestro Matteo Fedeli returns to St. Mary's to fill our church with the sweet sounds of a 1709 Pietro G. Guarneri violin, graciously on loan from a private collection. Maestro Fedeli will be accompanied on piano by Ms. Carol Cook of Aiken. This concert is free and open to the public, so bring your friends! This year, we have arranged to have the piano up front so that you will have the best possible view.

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