Dear Folks,

Palm Sunday and Holy Week begins with great crowds. During the first Holy Week, the crowds thinned at each successive event. While our crowds will be thinner than today on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, they will still be signicant. For that reason, our celebrations for the Triduum will all be held at the Fredericksburg Convention Center (formerly the EXPO Center).

Giving you a heads up: for years I have been promising a pilgrimage to Greece and Turkey. Well, the very day I received pricing and the itinerary, the current unrest began in the Middle East. However, my contacts in Jerusalem and Turkey assure me that none of this has reached the areas where we would be traveling. The proposed dates are October 23 to November 6, and the trip would include the town of St. Nicholas and the home of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Ephesus. The cost is approximately $5,500 per person with double occupancy. That price may come down depending on the number of pilgrims and the cost of flights, as it currently includes an estimate of $1,500 for airfare. If you are interested, please email me for the itinerary and more information at frmosimann@stmaryfred.org.  If there is more interest in delaying the trip until 2027, feel free to let me know that as well.

A resounding note of joy and gratitude for two wonderful retreats that took place here this past weekend. More than 30 couples attended a marriage enrichment retreat, where Margaret and David Bereit have elevated our program from good to great! At the same time, Gustavo and Kathryn Guzman organized a retreat with the Jesus Esta Vivo ministry for our Spanish- speaking brothers and sisters.

Donna Harring the Legion of Mary have also been doing beautiful work praying with our elderly parishioners, especially those in nursing homes. They recently worked with our Outreach Ministry to spearhead an initiative to provide crucifixes and images of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus & Mary to residents. (I know that many of you assisted with this act of mercy.) There were many smiles and even tears of joy as residents were able to enthrone Our Lord and Our Lady in their rooms. Keep an eye out after Easter for our family home enthronement initiative!

What makes St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception great? It is every member of the lay faithful using their gifts and talents, in harmony with the clergy, to welcome and love our Lord in every home and heart.

May your Holy Week slow down so that you can walk the mysteries of the our salvation with our Lord in these most solemn liturgies.

pax,

Father John Mosimann