Dear Folks,

What preparations did the Lord make for His coming? Only one thing: the perfect Immaculate Soul of His Mother. That’s it. They didn’t have a place to stay, they didn’t have a fancy hospital, or a perfectly prepared baby-room. Going to confession is the best possible preparation you can make to celebrate Christmas.

This year, we have again added many more opportunities for you to celebrate this great sacrament of the Lord’s mercy. I won’t repeat the whole schedule, because it is in the calendar that we have already been running in the bulletin. You are invited to return to the great sacrament of the Lord’s mercy. Catholics come home!

Last week we celebrated the Immaculate Conception, and we had even more dramatic traffic issues than on normal holy days. This is because the city project to repave Stafford Avenue got to our block! Oops, the timing wasn’t great, but blessed be the Lord! Thanks to those who were flexible and patient in exiting the one exit available from the parking lot. And to those who drove over sidewalks and curbs to get around traffic cones?? Pray 3 Hail Mary’s in reparation.

I will take this opportunity to remind you to be gracious to all of our neighbors, especially around the Holy Days. Don’t block driveways, observe all traffic and parking laws. I am proud that some of the neighbors felt comfortable enough to come to us and ask to park a car or even camper in our lots while the re-paving shut down the street in front of their houses! That is how neighbors help one another, and we have many wonderful neighbors!

Finally, please do your civic duty to help defeat the Virginia Abortion-Until-Birth Amendment. You are encouraged to read the bishop ’s letter.

Here is a shortened link tinyurl.com/ycx5tvn8

Additionally, here is a link by which you can directly sign the petition electronically at bit.ly/stop-abortion-st-mary

pax,

Father John Mosimann

The Knights of Columbus will be open for Tree Sales on Thursday and Friday from 3-8pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9am-6:30pm

RELIGIOUS ED CLASSES WILL BE CANCELED ON DECEMBER 9

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin has been transferred to Monday December 9 since December 8 falls on the Second Sunday of Advent.  This means Monday December 9 is a Holy Day of Obligation.  There are no Vigil Masses.  All Masses for the Solemnity are on Monday.  The city is paving Stafford Avenue so street parking will be limited.  If possible, please attend the 6pm at Holy Cross.  The Mass Schedule is:

Monday December 9

6:30am

9am

12pm

4pm Latin Novus Ordo

6pm at St Mary

6pm at Holy Cross Academy

7:30pm Bilingual

 

From Bishop Burbidge:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In just a few weeks, the Church throughout the world will celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom we in the United States especially honor as Patroness of our nation, on Monday December 9, 2024.  This great feast day, as the prayers of the Mass for the Solemnity remind us, celebrates the singular privilege that our Blessed Mother was preserved from all stain of original sin so as to be “a worthy dwelling” for our Incarnate Lord.

The Solemnity this year falls on the Second Sunday of Advent which, liturgically, outranks the celebration of the Solemnity itself.  It is for this reason and because of its importance in our lives as Catholics that the observance of the Solemnity is transferred to the next day, December 9.

When the transfer of certain Holy Days of Obligation occurs, the obligation for the faithful to attend Mass is usually dispensed.  In the United States, however, the obligation of attending Mass on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception remained, even if the liturgical celebration took place on another day.  The Dicastery for Legislative Texts of the Holy See has confirmed that attendance at Mass for the holy day is obligatory.  For the faithful in the Diocese of Arlington, attending Mass for the Solemnity on December 9 still remains as such.

While the obligation to attend Mass varies from diocese to diocese, it is a beautiful time to celebrate and honor Mary as the patroness of our country as we seek her powerful intercession asking that her Son bless our nation and the world, especially at this time, with his peace.  Those who are unable to participate at Mass because of health or hardship are dispensed by that very fact and are encouraged to join the universal Church in honoring Mary in some way during the day, for example through their personal prayer or acts of charity and piety.

It is my hope that all of us, priests and lay faithful, will see this celebration as a privilege and an opportunity to come together and fittingly honor the Blessed Virgin Mary.  May our coming celebration of Advent and the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception confirm in our hearts the great love that God has for the world by sending his Only-Begotten Son, born of the Virgin, and of the tremendous motherly affection that Mary has for all of us, her children.

Most Reverend Michael Burbidge, Bishop of Arlington

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin has been transferred to Monday December 9 since December 8 falls on the Second Sunday of Advent.  This means Monday December 9 is a Holy Day of Obligation.  There are no Vigil Masses.  All Masses for the Solemnity are on Monday.  The city is paving Stafford Avenue so street parking will be limited.  If possible, please attend the 6pm at Holy Cross.  The Mass Schedule is:

Monday December 9

6:30am

9am

12pm

4pm Latin Novus Ordo

6pm at St Mary

6pm at Holy Cross Academy

7:30pm Bilingual

 

From Bishop Burbidge:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In just a few weeks, the Church throughout the world will celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom we in the United States especially honor as Patroness of our nation, on Monday December 9, 2024.  This great feast day, as the prayers of the Mass for the Solemnity remind us, celebrates the singular privilege that our Blessed Mother was preserved from all stain of original sin so as to be “a worthy dwelling” for our Incarnate Lord.

The Solemnity this year falls on the Second Sunday of Advent which, liturgically, outranks the celebration of the Solemnity itself.  It is for this reason and because of its importance in our lives as Catholics that the observance of the Solemnity is transferred to the next day, December 9.

When the transfer of certain Holy Days of Obligation occurs, the obligation for the faithful to attend Mass is usually dispensed.  In the United States, however, the obligation of attending Mass on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception remained, even if the liturgical celebration took place on another day.  The Dicastery for Legislative Texts of the Holy See has confirmed that attendance at Mass for the holy day is obligatory.  For the faithful in the Diocese of Arlington, attending Mass for the Solemnity on December 9 still remains as such.

While the obligation to attend Mass varies from diocese to diocese, it is a beautiful time to celebrate and honor Mary as the patroness of our country as we seek her powerful intercession asking that her Son bless our nation and the world, especially at this time, with his peace.  Those who are unable to participate at Mass because of health or hardship are dispensed by that very fact and are encouraged to join the universal Church in honoring Mary in some way during the day, for example through their personal prayer or acts of charity and piety.

It is my hope that all of us, priests and lay faithful, will see this celebration as a privilege and an opportunity to come together and fittingly honor the Blessed Virgin Mary.  May our coming celebration of Advent and the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception confirm in our hearts the great love that God has for the world by sending his Only-Begotten Son, born of the Virgin, and of the tremendous motherly affection that Mary has for all of us, her children.

Most Reverend Michael Burbidge, Bishop of Arlington