St Mary Fred

Fr. Sunny’s Syro Malabar Rite Mass

May 26, 2017 St Mary Fred

Last Sunday, the 7:01pm Mass was celebrated in the Syro-Malabar Rite by Fr. Sunny! It was well attended and a beautiful experience as those Catholics of the Roman Rite were able to experience the Sacred Liturgy of our brothers and sisters of the Easter Rite of the Syro-Malabar Church. A choir from the Indian community in Washington DC came to assist Fr. Sunny, as well as many member of the Indian Catholic Community in the Virginia and DC area. Thanks to all our Syro-Malabar brothers and sisters who shared their faith with us!

Thursday is NOT a Day of Obligation

May 22, 2017 St Mary Fred

In most dioceses of the United States, the bishops have exercised their authority to transfer the Feast of the Ascension from Thursday to the following Sunday. This applies to the Diocese of Arlington. As a result, this Thursday is not a day of obligation and we will not celebrate any additional Masses. There was a typo in the bulletin this week stating that Thursday was a Day of Obligation. THIS WAS A TYPO AND THURSDAY IS NOT A DAY OF OBLIGATION. We apologize for the confusion.

Thursday Funeral at 2:30

May 21, 2017 St Mary Fred

There will be a funeral Mass celebrated on Thursday at 2:30pm, interrupting the regularly scheduled Adoration. It will continue immediately afterwards, at approximately 3:30pm.

From Our Pastor ~ May 21, 2017

May 20, 2017 St Mary Fred

Dear Folks,

Thanks to all who brought flowers for Our Lady this weekend. The gift of flowers seems to be a gift appreciated by all mothers. It just reminds me of some men recently talking about buying flowers for their wives. The consensus was that it was a total win to just buy them flowers ‘for no apparent reason.’ And they all agreed that you never, never buy the cheapest arrangement at the store. Ever.

My mother still has some pressed flowers in a frame that I gave her 30 years ago! I picked the tiny flowers on pilgrimage, one for each of her children, and I pressed them and kept them to give to her on my return. I never expected that they would sit framed in her room for the rest of her life. My small gesture, was received with great gratitude.

Which brings up a question that folks occasionally raise “why so many flowers in the Church?” Good question. First, I would say that flowers make as beautiful offering to the Lord as they do to wives. The flower that he most wants is our love. But how fitting as well that plants of the earth offer up the beauty of their lives in adornment to glorify the Lord.

Also, the ladies who prepare and care for the flowers are amazingly tireless workers. I am in awe of how many hours a week arranging and decorating, preparing as many as 17 bouquets! Sometimes they are even able to rearrange the flowers that you ‘randomly’ leave into bouquets which adorn the altar. These helpers are due a great word of thanks from every one of us.

And how about the cost? During the course of the year, there are two envelopes for flowers. These special collections come at Easter and Christmas. I haven’t double checked what the collection brought in this year, but frequently these collections cover the cost of the flowers for then entire year! Thank you for your great generosity, given specifically for beautiful flowers to the Lord.

April Showers bring May flowers.

May flowers bring mothers smiles.

Flowers are an appropriate gift expressing our love. For our Mothers, for Our Lady, and for Jesus. Thank you.

Peace in Christ,
Pax et bonum (peace and all goodness),