January 1 is the solemnity of Mary the Mother of God. The Mass schedule is as follows:
Thursday December 31: 4pm Latin Novus Ordo Mass, 6pm, 8pm, 12Midnight
Friday January 1: 7am, 8:30am, 10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm in Spanish
Friday January 1 at Holy Cross Academy: 10:30am and 12:30pm
This coming Sunday, January 3, Bishop Burbidge is scheduled to celebrate the 10:30am Mass for the Epiphany of the Lord. Social distancing guidelines will remain in force, so the church will not be able to seat any extra people than we normally do for our 10:30am Mass.
Dear Folks,
Merry Christmas!
Today is the Feast of the Holy Family. A model family. Intercessors. Redeemer.
Which leeds me briefly to contemplate role models. Sometimes folks look at Saints and say, “I can’t measure up.” To that I say, “Well as a child I couldn’t measure up to Elvin Hayes, but that didn’t stop me from learning and emulating his fall away jumper.” [Okay Boomer, who is Elvin Hayes? A basketball player in the 70s for the Bullets — now Wizards]. I practiced his trademark shot over and over at the park, and got pretty good at it. And failing to measure up to super-stars doesn’t stop people from auditioning for American Idol.
Not only are our heavenly role models happy to see us succeed, they will give us their own strength if we ask. Can you imagine any athlete or pop star doing that?
I remind you of words said by the Blessed Mother to Saint Juan Diego, “do not fear any illness or vexation, am I not here who am your mother?”
So strive to make your families holy like the Holy Family. Don’t fret about where you fall short. Give even your failures to Jesus, Mary and Joseph. This will make you happy forever.
Also reminder: the parish offices will be closed this week, and reopen on Monday January 4th. I am glad to be able to give our staff a well deserved break. They have worked continuously throughout the pandemic to keep our parish operating! Thanks so mucho!
pax et bonum (peace and all goodness),
Fr. John Mosimann
In order to accommodate everyone who wishes to attend Christmas Mass, St Mary will celebrate all our Christmas Masses at the Fredericksburg Expo Center. In keeping with the governor’s orders for churches, there will be a maximum limit of 1000 people per Mass. Social distancing will be maintained, and the Expo Center cleaned and aired out after every Mass, so it will be cold (bring a coat and gloves in addition to your masks!). Masks will be required to be worn inside the Expo center. The Expo Center’s address is 2371 Carl D. Silver Parkway, Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The Mass schedule is as follows:
2pm LIVE STREAMED (We encourage at risk parishioners to attend this Mass)
4pm LIVE STREAMED
6pm
8pm in Spanish LIVE STREAMED
10pm (This will be our “midnight” Mass)
7am
9am LIVE STREAMED
11am LIVE STREAMED
1pm
