May 20th Weekly Letter
Dear Friends,
St. Mary’s has long been a pastoral work assignment for seminarians preparing for ordination. Last summer and throughout the year, David Bearse has been with us on a regular basis. I’m very happy that he’s completed another year of studies and formation and will be living with us at the rectory throughout the summer. He arrives this weekend. He’ll be busy with all dimensions of parish life. He is a very fine young man and soon (June, 2013) will be a fine priest. Continue to pray for him and do all that you can to make his experience at St. Mary’s one that helps him to grow closer to Christ and prepares him to serve well Christ’s holy Church.
Please see bulletin notices about the ongoing efforts to provide financial stability for both the parish and the work of the wider diocese.
This parish is a spiritual powerhouse. In addition to our primary work of celebrating the sacraments and together preaching the Gospel in both word and deed, we also have deep and varied opportunities and experiences of prayer. Our weekly Eucharistic Adoration, First Saturday Devotions, daily morning prayers, Ultreya, Parish Prayer Line, Legion of Mary, Charismatic Prayer Group, St. Vincent de Paul, Life Teen Monday Night Pizza and Prayer, Family Rosary group, and our connections with John10AbundantLifeMinistry, Justin House and LIFT are but some of the special ways we offer praise and glory to God. With these blessings comes another reality. The Evil One hates what we do and is not afraid to push back. For a long time, I have wanted to have an image of St. Michael the Archangel, the great defender, in our Church. I recently found what I was looking for, and for good measure, had it blessed by Pope Benedict XVI. It is my gift to the parish. It is now hanging in the foyer of the Church, reminding us of the protection against the devil that Holy Mother Church, visible and invisible, gives us.
In time we may pray this pray together as a parish, but until then, please pray it often!
St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle
be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly Hosts, by the Divine power of God,
cast into hell, Satan, and all evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen
Jesus Christ, risen from the dead and ascended into heaven, is the great Victor.
God bless,
Fr. Kelly