Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church

Dear Folks,

Congrats to our Holy Cross Academy Girls Varsity Soccer team! Last weekend one of the girls shared with me that they won the championship and I am sure that many tears of joy were shed! Our Boys Varsity Basketball team went undefeated all season, falling only in the championship game as their singular loss.(This triggers a memory of an intramural team that did the same in seminary. The team we lost to admitted that we would have beat them 9 times out of 10, but they got the one that mattered!) So don’t ask me about that!

I am so proud of the hard work and success of these young ladies and gentlemen! Congrats!

This weekend saw the graduation of our HCA 8th graders. It is always a bittersweet celebration, because it is the end of the first major season in their lives, but also an opening to new horizons! This year’s 8th grade was in PreSchool when I arrived here! Last week, I was able to take them on a field trip to Leesburg to give a tour and celebrate Mass at St. John the Apostle church, and have my favorite Chinese food in the world!! Lots of laughs were enjoyed and the students even listened attentively to my explanation of church architecture!

This week we also celebrated our homeschool High School graduation and Mass of thanksgiving. Congratulations to these students and their amazing parents and co-op team. Much to be proud of! Thanks be to God!

Corpus Christi: today’s feast. What can I say that hasn’t already been said??

Ok, this is my thought for you: To whom do you turn when you are vexed and stressed and unsure of what path to take??

• If you turn to a friend or family member, you must turn to someone who will challenge your presumptions and choices.

• If you have a problem within your family, will your condential friend take the side of your spouse or children, or just echo back your ‘perfection’?

• If it is a life choice, are you turning to Jesus? Are you giving Him sufficient time to quiet your soul and hear His voice within you?

Jesus is the answer.

In the Blessed Sacrament, He has given Himself to us in a manner where He will never, ever run away from us. The answer you seek won’t be found in the back pat or affirmation from a fried. It can only be found by finding Him.

For this reason, I value above all, in times of distress, sitting with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

And if you ask to talk to me about some problem in your life, don’t be surprised if I insist that I won’t meet with you until you have spent an hour in adoration sitting with Jesus.

I have nothing to give you other than Him.

pax,

Father John Mosimann

On Saturday June 6, Deacon Stan Lee, who will be assigned to St Mary, is going to be ordained a priest by Bishop Burbidge at the Cathedral of St Thomas Moore in Arlington.  So the priests of St Mary can be there to participate in his priestly ordination, the 8am confessions on June 6 are canceled, and the 9am Mass is moved to 8am.

Confessions at 3:30pm and Vigil Masses at 5 and 7pm are unaffected.

Dear Folks,

Please be sure to check out the pictures from our first Eucharistic procession for the students and staff at Holy Cross Academy! Father Joseph and I were able to bring Jesus to visit and bless every classroom and office in the school, including the new middle school wing. Each classroom was allowed 5 minutes for a song, prayer, silence and blessing!

When we knocked on one classroom door the teacher cried tears of joy and exclaimed, “I literally just said, ‘I need Jesus’ and He knocks on my door!” There were smiles and reverence all around! It took 3 hours, and we had probably 20 servers help in stages over the morning!

Let this also serve as an invitation to this Thursday’s Corpus Christi procession from the parish church to Mary Wash Catholic Campus ministry and back. We will walk on sidewalks and avoid crossing major streets, in case anyone is anxious about safety, and yes, we will have water waiting.It is a beautiful witness to of faith, and will be followed by a light reception with food when we return to the parish!

Also, please keep Soon-to-be-Father Lee in your prayers this week. Next Saturday he will be ordained to the Holy priesthood in a group of seven men!

This is always a feast of great joy—even more so this year with the ordination of seven men! If you are thinking of going, the Mass is open to the public, but a couple of points of advice:

• With 7 men being ordained, this Mass is likely to be very full (which we understand here)!

• Be ready to struggle with parking and seating—and that’s aer you brave the summer crowds on I-95 North! Last year your priests arrived 30 minutes early and were the first car turned away from the parking lot! (Hence, why we have to change the Mass time and cancel Confessions this Saturday morning).

• Be ready for Mass to begin earlier than the posted 11:00 am. Bishop Burbidge likes to reverence the altar on time, which means the procession will start 15 to 20 minutes before the scheduled start of Mass. Sometimes that means Mass starts early!

• Be ready to be inspired by the beautiful celebration of the gi of the priesthood! But of course, keep the priests in your prayers, even if you don’t brave the crowds!

Schedule NOTE: Because of the ordination next Saturday, there will be NO Confessions and the morning Mass will be at 8am!!

pax,

Father John Mosimann

On Saturday June 6, Deacon Stan Lee, who will be assigned to St Mary, is going to be ordained a priest by Bishop Burbidge at the Cathedral of St Thomas Moore in Arlington.  So the priests of St Mary can be there to participate in his priestly ordination, the 8am confessions on June 6 are canceled, and the 9am Mass is moved to 8am.