Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church

Dear Folks,

This past week we celebrated the feast days of St. Monica and St. Augustine. St. Monica’s feast was Thursday, and St. Augustine on Friday! It is only fitting that the mother’s feast day is before the son’s! With an Augustinian pope, I am confident that there will be increased reflection on these two great saints during his papacy.

St. Monica is a great intercessor for parents whose children have le the practice of the faith. She prayed for the future saint for many years, and her tears and prayers were answered beyond what she ever imagined! The second thing which I always recall for her, is that when she was dying, St. Augustine promised to take her body to her homeland for burial.

Her response shows her saintly focus on heaven and the holy sacrice of the Mass: “Bury my body wherever you will; let not care of it cause you any concern. One thing only I ask you, that you remember me at the altar of the Lord wherever you may be.” I invite all parents of children who have dried away from the practice of the faith, to pray for St. Monica’s powerful intercession and attend Mass as frequently as possible.

Secondly, in today’s bulletin there is a notice of invitation for all interested in participating in the St. Monica Prayer Group of St. Mary’s; a beautiful community of faith, gathering to encourage and pray for one another. Their next gathering is Saturday, September 12. Please reach out!

As a nod to the Holy Father, we put a statue of St. Augustine into the new adoration chapel. It is the statue on the rightmost side of the reredos, and it is the statue that has most elicited the question, “who is that?” He is depicted with a book in his hand and a flaming heart, which is a nod to this line from the beginning of The Confessions, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

St. Monica, powerful in prayer, and St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church, pray for us!

pax,

Father John Mosimann

This weekend we will be taking up a special second collection for the victims of the earthquake in Columbia earlier this summer.  Please make checks payable to St Mary and put “For Columbia” in the memo.

Dear Folks,

Just in case you were traveling or missed the news: Deacon Alberto has received from the bishop a release from his assignment to our parish so that he could move to San Antonio to be closer to family. This weekend is his last in the parish before he road-trips to Texas on Tuesday!

Deacon Alberto has been an extraordinary gift and blessing to our parish family. He has walked with you all through so many of life’s sacred moments— baptizing our children, proclaiming God’s Word and preaching at Holy Mass, bringing our Lord in Holy Communion to the homebound, comforting families as they laid loved ones to rest, blessing our homes, teaching our faith, and, time and again, generously going far beyond the call of duty as a faithful servant.

I will miss Deacon Alberto deeply—not only as a dedicated collaborator in ministry, but as a friend. We are equally grateful for his wonderful wife, Miralba, whose quiet strength, generous heart, and joyful spirit have blessed our parish in countless ways. Through her active involvement in many ministries and her unwavering support of Deacon Alberto’s vocation, she has been a beautiful witness of Christian love and selfless service.

Together, Deacon Alberto and Miralba have reflected the beauty, fidelity, and joy of the Sacrament of Marriage. Their partnership in faith and ministry has enriched our parish beyond measure, and their witness has inspired so many. While we will greatly miss their presence among us, we are profoundly grateful for the love, dedication, and countless blessings they have shared with our parish family.

Here are plans to bid Deacon Alberto farewell:

This Saturday August 22 he will serve the 5pm Mass, Sunday August 23, the 10:30am English Mass and the 2:30pm Spanish Mass.

Farewell Reception: Monday, August 24. A 5pm Mass, followed by a reception in the PLC from 5:30 to 8pm. We understand that not everyone will be able to attend the Mass, which is why the reception will continue afterward so that you can stop by whenever you are able during that time.

Adoration chapel is open!!

While there is no exposition this weekend, the chapel is open during Mass hours. The entrance to the chapel is located behind the church, at the bottom of the ramp leading to the offices. Hours are here in bulletin for Adoration time/ place, and on the parish website, or follow this link if you want to see the week marked out with hours/place of adoration at https://tinyurl.com/cpvar6vz

pax et bonum,

Father John Mosimann

This Saturday August 22 Deacon will serve the 5pm Mass, Sunday August 23, the 10:30am English Mass and the 2:30pm Spanish Mass.

Farewell Reception: Monday, August 24. A 5pm Mass, followed by a reception in the PLC from 5:30 to 8pm. We understand that no everyone will be able to attend the Mass, which is why the reception will continue afterward so that you can stop by whenever you are able during that time.