Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Do you have a beloved pet? Maybe a horse or even a llama, alpaca, or other favorite animals you care for? All animals of any species are welcome to our annual Blessing of the Animals on the Feast of St. Francis, this Thursday, October 4 at 3:30pm on the rectory lawn (corner of Park Ave. and York St.). Every animal will receive a special pet medal, blessed for this occasion!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Although the effects of Hurricane Florence were little to nothing here in Aiken, the storm has brought loss of life and devastating flooding from the Pee Dee region of South Carolina north into eastern North Carolina. You may wish to donate towards recovery efforts. Two Catholic charities that are helping and that have online donation are the Knights of Columbus – www.kofc.org, and Catholic Relief Services – www.crs.org. The United States is not the only place where recent natural disasters have hit. From extreme flooding caused by monsoon rains in Kerala, India, to the devastation wrought by Typhoon Mangkhut in the Philippines and China, let us pray fervently for those who have been affected in any way by natural disasters worldwide. Also, may those who have died find eternal rest in God.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Now that a couple of weeks have passed since the jarring revelations in the recent Pennsylvania Grand Jury report, I’d like to do two things: (1) let you know what our diocese (and every diocese to my knowledge) has put in place since 2001, and (2) to encourage you to write to those bishops and even the Pope, who are able to put in place whatever changes are necessary.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Now more than ever, we need to get to know Jesus Christ and His resurrection. This is what started it all, and this is the entire reason you and I are here. Do you feel adequate in your knowledge of and friendship with Christ? If not, don’t worry because Alpha is here! Alpha presents the basic Gospel message and provides an opportunity to encounter Jesus. It is a series of sessions that typically run over eleven weeks. Each talk looks at a different question of faith and is designed to create conversation. It provides a safe, non-threatening environment to invite your friends to come, freely explore the major questions of life, and through this experience, be introduced to God’s love for them. Alpha starts this weekend in Oswald Hall (across from St. Angela Hall), 9:45–10:45am. For more information, contact Mary Ellen Jackson at 803-642-2676 or: mjackson@charlestondiocese.org.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We give a warm welcome to Fr. Jorge Fernandez, who will graciously help us in the interim until our new parochial vicar arrives in September. Father Jorge (pronounced “Hor-hay”) is a religious order priest of the Xaverian Missionaries of Yarumal and has served recently in Kenya for fourteen years. Father Jorge and his congregation have done a marvelous work of continuing to bring the Good News to the peoples of the world. Welcome, Father Jorge!

Dear St. Mary’s,

Near the end of March of this year, Aiken was named by the Southern Living magazine as the best small town in the South. At that time, Mayor Rick Osbon echoed the famous expression by J. David Jameson, the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce President and CEO: “If you're lucky enough to live in Aiken, you're lucky enough.”

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Be sure to come out and show your appreciation to Fr. Michel for his wonderful priestly ministry in our parish. Father Michel’s farewell reception will be next Sunday, August 12, in St. Angela Hall from 2:00 to 3:30pm. On August 13, Fr. Michel begins at St. Louis in Dillon, SC, and Infant Jesus Mission in Marion, SC. How blessed we have been to have Fr. Michel for a little over a year! (Please note that Father Michel has requested that if people wish to give any monetary gifts, they be directed to St. Mary’s for the St. Juan Diego statue planned for the north garden.)

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As I announced at Mass last Sunday, with sadness we will soon say goodbye to Father Michel as he undertakes the next chapter in his priestly ministry as Administrator of St. Louis Catholic Church in Dillon, SC, and Infant Jesus Mission in Marion, SC (not far from Florence, SC). Always we know in the back of our minds that our parochial vicars are here for a time and then “graduate” to leading parishes of their own. Mark your calendars: Father Michel's last Sunday as parochial vicar of St. Mary’s will be August 12. We will have a special farewell reception for him that day in St. Angela Hall from 2:00-3:30pm. And please pray for Fr. Michel and his bright future. The process of naming a new parochial vicar is in the works, and we hope to be able to announce that soon.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Last Sunday was our summer seminarian Rafa’s last with us, and he has departed to capture some vacation time before soon heading back to St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston. Although you may have caught only a glimpse of him at Sunday and, perhaps, daily Masses, Rafa was extremely active, most especially with our youth programs. Please continue to pray for Rafa as he prepares to enter 2nd Theology; and remember to pray for all of our seminarians. We are grateful to God for their willing sacrifice.

Dear St. Mary’s Family,

We want to thank Fr. Wilson for allowing us to share his column. From May 26 to June 7, we had the privilege of walking the Camino Primitivo, the original pilgrimage route to the body of St. James the Apostle in Compostela, Spain. This route is shorter (only 210 miles) than the route Fr. Wilson took a couple years ago, but was more remote and mountainous. It was quite a pilgrimage, beginning at the cathedral in Oviedo that contains the head cloth (cf. Jn 20:8) at Jesus’ burial, which is different than the shroud that covered his body. Our first rest day came eight days later in Lugo, where the cathedral has maintained perpetual adoration of Jesus in the Eucharist for over 1000 years. We experienced the pageantry of a Eucharistic procession in Lugo on the Feast of Corpus Christi. The pilgrimage ended in Compostela, at the relics of St. James, the brother of St. John the Evangelist.

Father Wilson asked me to write something for St Mary's bulletin. I apologize in advance, it is my first time doing so. To begin, allow me to share with you one of my favorite verses in the bible, which is John 21:15.

"Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.' He said to him, 'Feed my lambs.'"

This encounter between Peter and Jesus comes at the last chapter of the gospel of John, and I am pretty sure John did not put it there by coincidence. John meant to end his gospel with this intimate dialogue between the two old friends, Jesus and Peter.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day, please note that Mass on Wednesday, July 4th is moved to 9:00am in Old St. Mary’s. Also, join us for a special Holy Hour and Rosary for our nation before Mass, beginning at 8:00am.

Below is a wonderful prayer for our nation based on one by Archbishop John Carroll, first bishop in the United States, composed in 1791 for the inauguration of George Washington as President and recited in all parishes. May you all have a safe and happy holiday.

–Father Wilson

We pray, O almighty and eternal God, who through Jesus Christ has revealed Your glory to all nations, to preserve the works of your mercy; that your Church, being spread through the whole world, may continue with unchanging faith in the confession of Your name.

We pray You, who alone are good and holy, to endow with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal, and sanctity of life, our chief bishop, Pope Francis, the Vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the government of his Church; our own bishop, Robert, all other bishops and pastors of the Church; and especially those who are appointed to exercise among us the functions of the holy ministry, and conduct Your people into the ways of salvation.

We pray You O God of might, wisdom, and justice! Through whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment decreed, assist with Your Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude the president of these United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful to Your people over whom he presides. Let the light of Your divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, and may perpetuate to us the blessings liberty.