From Our Pastor

From Our Pastor

Dear Folks,

Sometimes, with writer’s block, I peek to see what I wrote for a feast in previous years. I found in 2018, I wrote about spending time with my parents in “staycation” after Christmas, and how great it was. My New Years resolution, was “more quality time with my parents.” Wow, I didn’t know that it would be my last Christmas with my mother!

What a simple gift, that the Lord gave my soul, a gentle nudge to spend more time with my parents, because He knew how short the time was. Dad and I watched stupid ‘guy’ movies, with lots of explosions! And there was even a Hallmark movie for mom!

I pray that in the holidays you got some time to do nothing. And by “do nothing” I mean spend time with loved ones without some great master plan of all the things you will accomplish. Sometimes the most loving thing we can do for someone is to just be with them, or watch the movie they want. Then maybe you will hear what they want to do, or better yet that they will just want to be with you.

In the words of as 8th century monk: “He who neglects contemplation is deprived of the vision of the light of God; he who is carried away with worry and allows his thoughts to be crushed by the tumult of the things of the world is condemned to the absolute impossibility of penetrating the secrets of the invisible God.”

A Blessed Feast of the Epiphany to you!

Pax,

Father John Mosimann

January 5, 2025
Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God

Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God

Wednesday Jan 1 is the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God and a Holy Day of Obligation.  All Masses will be at St Mary.  The Mass schedule is:

Tuesday December 31

6pm Mass in English

7:30pm Mass in English

12midnight Mass in English

Wednesday January 1

7am Mass in English

8:30am Mass in English

10:30am Mass in English

12:30pm Mass in English

2:30pm Mass in Spanish

From Our Pastor

From Our Pastor

Dear Folks,

The Feast of the Holy Family falls right smack in the middle of Christmas week. It is a week where many folks slow down and enjoy some family time, as I hope you are doing.

One year, for this feast, I started my homily with, “I have a gift for the parish this weekend.” And I preached a 3 minute homily closing with “Merry Christmas, your gift is this three minute homily!” And the church spontaneously applauded!

Some folks apologized after Mass for applauding, to which I said, “haha…. I get it! It was truly a surprise and gift!” A few other folks complained that now they would be early for their dinner reservation, so we hung out, chatted and laughed until the ’normal’ departure time. But the gift was received with smiles.

I don’t promise you a short homily this weekend, and I can’t even promise that I will be on time for more Masses in the new year. But I do promise that I thank God for you, my parish family, with all of or joys, sorrows, quirks and gifts. We read these words recently at Mass, and I have been thinking of them in prayer since:

I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you, praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:3-6)

pax,

Father John Mosimann

December 29, 2024
Christmas and Final Confessions

Christmas and Final Confessions

We encourage everyone attending a Christmas Eve Service at St Mary to be considerate of the neighbors when parking.  Please don’t block anyone’s driveway or block any sightline by parking near corners.  If parking is a concern, please consider our Christmas Eve Masses at Holy Cross Academy.  The Christmas Mass Schedule is posted below.

Confessions

Monday December 23 at 6:30pm-7:30pm

Christmas Eve at St Mary:

4pm in English

6:30pm in Spanish

8:30pm in English

12midnight in English

Christmas Eve at Holy Cross Academy (250 Stafford Lakes Pkwy Fredericksburg VA 22406)

4pm in English

6:30pm in English

Christmas Day (All Masses at St Mary)

7am in English

8:30am in English

10:30am in English

12:30pm in English