My dear friends,
(The Rectory Office is closed today, Saturday, November 9th - FYI)
What a blessing it was that over 100 parishioners and people took advantage of the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick! Jesus came to heal humanity and, along with the Sacrament of Confession, the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick brings God's healing to us when we are in need!
Thank you to Laura Wright, Rosemary Roche, Patricia Ditrio and others who planned, provided, organized and led the prayers for Nocturnal Adoration for our nation last weekend. It was very heartening to see those who came to Eucharistic Exposition to pray for the United States of America that night, the Monday eve of the Election and on Election Day.
Thank you to our Parish Council, led by our Chair, Carolyn Giannelli, for the ideas, hosting, organizing and running of some wonderful IHM offerings: last week's Coffee and Donuts and this past Thursday's Fall Handbag Bingo! To all who assisted and worked hard to make them welcoming and successful - Thank you!
Besides handbags, we also raffled off a front row seat to the 4pm Christmas Eve Mass for 2024!
Today is the Feast of the Dedication of the Holy Father's Cathedral in Rome - the Papal Basilica of Saint John (in) Lateran. As we celebrate this foundational church that houses the cathedra or chair of the Successor to Saint Peter, the sign of the teaching responsibility Jesus imparted to the fisherman, it is also a moment to reflect on our heavenly home and the fact that Baptism makes us a temple of the living God. Our lives are meant to become a pleasing sacrifice to God in praise, worship and acts of charity, as well as the means by which we bring Jesus into the world. It is fitting that we pray for our bereaved families today who have buried a loved one from IHM in the the past 12+ months. May they be one day with the Lord in the heavenly temple!
This weekend Fr. Thumma will celebrate the 7:30am Mass, 9:00am Family Mass (all in main church) and 10:30am Choir Mass. The Dominican priest, Fr. Ignatius Schweitzer, O.P., will offer the 12:00 noon Mass.
I will celebrate the 5:30pm Saturday Vigil and then all day Sunday will be traveling to and from Baltimore by train to share the alumni association's report to the Pontifical North American College's Board of Governors. We are preparing for our reunion in Rome for the 2025 Jubilee Year next January 20th - 25th.
On Monday, November 11th, Veterans Day, while the parish, school and religious education offices will be closed, we will still have a 6:45am Mass (Intention may still be available - check online and request), 9am Mass and all-day Adoration until 9pm with 7:30pm Rosary and Confessions offered at 8pm. There will also be the Saint Veronica's Guild Communion breakfast that morning.
The 2025 Mass Intention Book will open this Tuesday, November 12th. My apologies for pushing it back a week, but this will be better timing. Please use the online link
by clicking here. If you must, you may call the rectory on or after 12:00 noon or stop by in person.
For those who are able to join in a special celebration for me this Friday, November 15th from 7:00-10:00pm, I look forward to being with you! Please register below.
For all those who will be at Friday's 9:00am Mass, know that you will be most welcome to join me in the rectory for coffee and bagels following Mass (or following the Divine Mercy Chaplet & Rosary) to celebrate!
And if you are able, it would be wonderful to pray Evening Prayer in the church at 6:30pm with as many as possible, in thanksgiving to God for the gift of life and priesthood, and remembering my departed parents.
A blessed Sunday to you!
___________________________________________________________________
Following our national elections, as we prepare for a transition to a new administration, as well as a new session of the Senate and House, a prayer from the first Catholic Bishop in the United States, Bishop John Carroll (1735–1815), for our President and Congress:
We pray, 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; by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; and by restraining vice and immorality.
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, the increase of industry, sobriety and useful knowledge; and may perpetuate to us the blessing of equal liberty.
Amen.
Saturday (11/9)
8:30am Mass - Annual IHM Bereavement Mass for all who were buried
from IHM in the past year.
Monday (11/11) - Veterans Day
6:45am and 9:00am Masses
Adoration as usual (7:15am - 9:00pm) with 7:30pm Rosary and 8:00pm
Confessions
Tuesday (11/12)
12:00 noon - 2025 Mass Intention Book opens for online or by phone/in person
requests. Up to 2 (two) Masses for the first week may be submitted.
Friday (11/15)
9:00am - following the morning Mass (or the Chaplet & Rosary),
all from the Mass are invited for coffee and bagels in the rectory
with the Pastor!
6:30pm - Evening Prayer with the Pastor in the church in gratitude to God.
7:00-10:00pm Fall Wine and Cheese, with Broadway tunes and the Pastor's 50th
(see below to register)!
Sunday (11/24)
3pm Sensory Friendly Mass
Monday (12/9)
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception will be transferred to the Monday since Sunday is Advent. For a long time we have operated under the rule that when a holy day of obligation is transferred, the obligation does not go with it. The Vatican has recently clarified it with our US Catholic Bishops by stating that the obligation does indeed transfer. We will look to add two Masses or so for all to fulfill their obligation.
Friday (12/13)
Messiah sing-along