Our Thanksgiving Day Mass will be at 10am. All parishioners are asked to bring non-perishable food items to donate to the Fredericksburg Food Bank Truck which will be parked outside before Mass. Please drop off your food to the truck BEFORE Mass begins!
Happy Thanksgiving!
In observance of Thanksgiving, the Parish Office will be closed on Thursday and Friday.
Dear Folks,
Two big things coming here this week, Thanksgiving Day and next week begins the first week of Advent!
We will be having our one Thanksgiving Day Mass at 10 am. So sleep in, get the turkey in the oven, and come to Mass! We will have our customary food drive benefitting The Fredericksburg Food Bank and you can drop the food off outside the church as you come in. I am so proud that, as someone said to me recently, this parish “loves to give food!”
Candlelight Masses 7:00pm return for Advent / Feast of the Immaculate Conception / Feast of the Holy Family!
Last week I offered a candlelit Mass for last year’s deceased of our parish. Several of the folks walking out said that it was the most beautiful Mass they had ever seen!
Given the emphasis in Advent on “the people in darkness have seen a great light,” it is an appropriate time. Please check it out if you wish for a fresh and especially contemplative take on the Sacrifice of the Mass! These are the dates of the upcoming candlelight Masses:
7:00 pm Sunday November 28, (1st Sunday of Advent)
7:00 pm Sunday December 5, (2nd Sunday of Advent)
7:30 pm Wednesday December 8, (Feast of the Immaculate Conception)
7:00 pm December 12, (3rd Sunday of Advent)
7:00 pm December 19, (4th Sunday of Advent)
7:00 pm December 26, (Feast of the Holy Family)
pax et bonum,
Fr. John Mosimann
Dear Folks,
Two years ago I was privileged to offer Mass at the altar where Saint Padre Pio prayed Mass every day and to see his confessional where he so faithfully cared for souls. See the pictures below, and I hope that his intercession is making me a better confessor!
St. Padre Pio said “Temptations, discouragement and unrest are the wares offered by the enemy. Remember this: if the devil makes noise, it is a sign that he is still outside and not yet within. That which must terrify us is his peace and concord with the human soul. That which comes from Satan begins with calmness and ends in storm, indifference and apathy.”
I agree that I have seen this in souls. Sometimes I try remind folks that it is only by God’s grace that we can be frustrated and disgusted by sin. If we did not have His help, we would wallow and delight in the muck. The very turmoil of the soul coming to Jesus for confession, shows that they are still, with God’s help, doing battle against sin. Be encouraged that no matter how much you may be frustrated and in turmoil, the Lord is with you.
And if you don’t find any turmoil and struggle against sin, ask yourself, “have I become indifferent and apathetic to ‘being perfect as my heavenly Father is perfect?'” Because the indifference is the hardest to overcome. It is the diabolic indifference of: ‘my life is fine. I don’t need Jesus.’
I for one, need him always and everywhere.
pax et bonum,
Fr Mosimann
