From the Pastor 9-6-2015

September is here! School is starting, Labor Day is around the corner and summer will soon turn to fall. How fast time seems to go. I am going to start a regular column for our parish bulletin to keep you informed of things happening in the parish, to keep you updated on things happening in the Church at large and, occasionally, to do some catechizing. I always think September is a good time to catechize about the liturgy. I think it is important to be reminded (and I mean ME too!) what the Second Vatican Council says about the liturgy: “Mother Church earnestly desires that all the faithful should be led to that full, conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy, and to which the Christian people, ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a redeemed people’ (1 Pet. 2:9, 4- a redeemed people’ (1 Pet. 2:9, 4-5) have a right and 5) have a right and obligation by reason of their baptism.” obligation by reason of their baptism.” It is so important that we participate at Mass! It is our right and our obligation! This means singing, responding, listening attentively, praying, and being aware of the people around us. The Sacrifice of the Mass, for Catholics, is the supreme act of public worship. This means that we are not engaged in private prayer or devotion (a very, very good thing!) but we are all in this together to worship God our Father through Jesus Christ united by the Holy Spirit! May we be fully engaged, conscious of what we are doing and taking an active part in our communal act of worship each and every Sunday! God bless you all!