From Our Pastor

From Our Pastor

Dear Folks,

Three things this weekend:

1. Saturday is the Feast of the Annunciation! One of two solemnities that are so big that the church breaks its fast and penitential season to celebrate this major feast. (The other is St. Joseph’s Feast Day which was last Monday).

When I meditate on the Annunciation, I contemplate the disposition of the Blessed Virgin to do whatever the Lord asked of her. I consider her radical availability, “be it done unto me according to your will.” That generosity of availability for the Lord is one that we can cultivate and pray for.

We can cultivate it by doing the difficult things that would otherwise cause us to recoil. We can pray for added strength when we see that we said ’no’ where our conscience was urging us to say ‘yes.’ Recently, I had a conversation with someone who is looking to apply for a job that they expect will be a stretch but also difficult to even be hired! The conversation led me to believe that his nerves and anxiety were really the Lord stirring his soul for the next way he wants him to grow. Enjoy the Feast of the Annunciation! Your ‘yes’ in the hands of God can work miracles.

2. The Wizard of Oz at HCA!! By the time you reads this, there will be, at most, one more production of our school play, The Wizard of Oz. There are rumors of a pastor having a small but wonderful role! Stay tuned for a picture, in case it happens!

3. Parish Survey. There are a couple of things I’d like some parish data on, especially a possible new Spanish Mass, and economic impact of the parish. I am asking folks to fill it out at Mass, but if you miss it, there will be other opportunities as well.

4. (yes, I know I said three). Extra confessions before Holy Week. Schedule on page 4.

pax,

Father John Mosimann

March 26, 2023
Bishop Burbidge on the Feast of the Annunciation

Bishop Burbidge on the Feast of the Annunciation

How do you imagine the Annunciation scene? Throughout the Church’s history, many artists have attempted to capture the moment when the Archangel Gabriel announced to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she was to be the Mother of God. Each depiction has certain strengths, but they are all incomplete. No human can fully grasp the power and beauty of that exchange between the Archangel and the Mother of God.

Still, we know two aspects about the Annunciation for certain: Mary’s abandonment to God’s will and her joy. Those two things give us a greater appreciation and love for Our Lady. They also prepare us for similar circumstances in our lives.

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). With these words, the Blessed Virgin Mary says “yes” to God. We call this her “fiat.” She perfectly abandons herself to his will. Mary not only chose to do the will of God at that one moment, but she also had a constant expectant attitude, always desiring to know and to respond to his will more. The spiritual writer Father Wilfrid Stinissen describes Mary as a question mark (a curious description). It means that she lived her life always asking, seeking to know what God desired of her. “How can I do your will?” was her constant disposition before God.

At the center of our faith is this truth: Mary’s “yes” brings joy to the world. Without her embrace of God’s will, the joy of salvation would not be known and received. Mary’s “yes” serves as the pattern for all of us to follow.

Doing God’s will brings joy. This might be difficult to understand because we often confuse joy with fun and pleasure. The truth is that doing God’s will is not always fun or pleasurable. It is often difficult because of our weaknesses and increasingly hostile culture. Fun and pleasure are feelings that come and go, but the joy that God desires for us is something much deeper: It is a spiritual reality. Real joy comes from knowing that we are in union with him and cooperating with him in the work of the Gospel. We can experience this joy even in the midst of trials and challenges.

Mary understands our difficulties and struggles. What the Archangel Gabriel announced to her was beautiful beyond compare, but it also presented challenges. How would she explain this to Joseph? And to others? What did this mean for the rest of her life? What was to happen to her Son? The angel’s message brought more questions than answers.

At the same time, the joy of bearing the Messiah and of cooperating with God in bringing the Savior into the world put all her concerns in the proper perspective. The challenges did not suddenly vanish, but deep within her was the joy that comes from knowing she was in union with God and acting as his co-worker in the work of salvation.

What happens after the Annunciation confirms the joy that comes from doing God’s will. After giving her “yes” to God, Mary rises and goes in haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Her very entrance into the home of Zechariah brings joy. Elizabeth exclaims, “For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy” (Lk 1:44). On that occasion, Mary bursts into her own song of joy: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior” (Lk 1:46-47).

In the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we invoke Mary as “Cause of Our Joy.” She causes us to rejoice through the conception and birth of Jesus. She also causes us to rejoice by showing us the true path to joy, which is always through abandonment to the will of God, that constant readiness to say “yes” to God.

The Annunciation occurred once and is an unrepeatable event. However, throughout the day we all have “little annunciations,” moments when circumstances invite us to abandon ourselves to God’s will. It may be a simple reminder to pray for and assist someone in need. For some, it may be an invitation to unite a cross you are carrying to the Lord’s and offer it for a special intention. For parents, it may be the practice of showing additional patience with your children and those you love. For others, it may be extending forgiveness to those who have hurt you. Whatever the case, as often as we follow Mary’s path in saying “yes” to God, we become a cause of joy, not only for ourselves but also for others.

May we join with Mary in saying to Our Lord: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

-From the Arlington Catholic Herald

SCAM Emails and Text Messages

SCAM Emails and Text Messages

There is another batch of scam emails and text messages going around asking for gift cards.  As a reminder, no priest will ever reach out to your for gift cards via email or text message.  There is a parish staff that helps them with whatever they need, so never ever respond to texts saying I need a favor, please buy a few hundred dollars worth of gift cards.  It is always a scam. If you are unsure, call the main office number and speak to a staff member. Please be careful.

Lent and Easter 2023

Lent and Easter 2023

STATIONS OF THE CROSS AND CONFESSIONS

Stations of the Cross are Every Friday of Lent at 6:30pm in the church, and at 7pm in Spanish in the church.

Confessions are Regularly head every Wednesday from 11:30am-12pm, and from 6:30pm-7:30pm; and every Saturday from 8am-8:30am, and 3:30pm-4:30pm.

ADDITIONAL LENTEN CONFESSIONS

Monday March 27 at 11:30am-12pm, 6:30pm-7pm

Wednesday March 29 at 11:30am-12pm, 6:30pm-7pm

Friday March 31 at 11:30am-12pm, 6:30pm-7pm

Monday April 3 at 11:30am-12pm, 6:30pm-7:30pm

Tuesday April 4 at 11:30am-12pm, 6:30pm-7:30pm

Wednesday April 5 at 11:30am-12pm, 6:30pm-7:30pm

PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION APRIL 2

Palms are distributed and blessed at All Masses:

Saturday April 1

5pm

7pm

SUNDAY APRIL 2

7am

8:30am

10:30am

12:30pm

2:30pm Spanish

5pm

7pm

Sunday April 2 at HOY CROSS ACADEMY 250 STAFFORD LAKES PARKWAY FREDERICKSBURG 22406

8:30am

10:30am

HOLY THURSDAY APRIL 6

8am Morning Prayer and Office of Readings

7:30pm Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper followed by Adoration in the PLC until 11:45pm

11:45pm Night Prayer in the PLC

GOOD FRIDAY APRIL 7

8am Morning Prayer and Office of Readings

12pm-3pm The Tree Ore The Seven Last Words of Christ

3pm The Passion and Veneration of the Holy Cross

7pm Stations of the Cross

7:30pm Stations in Spanish

10pm Night Prayer

HOLY SATURDAY APRIL 8*

*NO CONFESSIONS ON SATURDAY

8am Morning Prayer and Office of Readings

11am Blessing of Easter Food

8:30pm The Easter Vigil (at St Mary)

EASTER SUNDAY APRIL 9

ALL EASTER MASSES ARE AT THE FREDERICKSBURG EXPO CENTER: 2371 CARL D. SILVER PKWY, FREDERICKSBURG VA 22401

8am Easter Mass at the Expo Center
10:15am Easter Mass at the Expo Center
12:30pm Bilingual Easter Mass at the Expo Center