With the Election Tuesday, I am inviting you to prayer before our Eucharistic Lord, Monday evening, night, and all day Tuesday. I renew last week’s exhortation to vote with a well formed conscience, and then drop by St. Mary’s to pray for our country.

One hidden blessing this year was that during the time without public Masses, we were able to keep our church open from 6am to midnight with Adoration. Jesus was on the altar all day prominently and centrally! It was noticeable and fitting and a source of great comfort to many. Jesus is the source and summit of everything that we do in the church. We are a church of and for the Eucharist.

This led to a discussion at Parish Council in May about the possibility of moving the tabernacle to the center of our sanctuary directly underneath the crucifix with the priests chairs moving to one side. The proposal was warmly received and people immediately offered to help defray the costs. Over the summer, options were weighed and the permission of the Bishop was obtained. The simplest option was chosen, which is moving furniture and purchase of a tabernacle stand and new candles, not a renovation.

In two weeks, on November 10th, we have a contractor coming to install a stand for the tabernacle that matches the cabinetry. It is being manufactured by the same builder (a local Virginia company) who built our custom woodwork so that it matches seamlessly, and donations have been secured to pay for this.

The candles are being purchased from the same manufacture in Spain who built the tabernacle, so that they will properly match once these arrive at a later date. Many of the candles have also been covered with donations from Parish Council members!

I am grateful for the generosity of the Parish Council who received this suggestion with great enthusiasm and generosity. Placing the tabernacle where it is in the direct sight line of every seat will be a visible reminder to everyone that Jesus Christ is the priest, victim, and the living heart of our parish family and church.

pax et bonum,

Fr. John Mosimann