Prayers of Reparation for Sins of the Clergy

Prayers of Reparation for Sins of the Clergy

Last week we published the Bishop’s letter, where he asked for priests to offer Mass, penance, and prayers of reparation for the Sins of the Clergy. Many of you have expressed your support and desire to share in these prayers. To that end, the most immediate opening on the calendar is Labor day. Thus:

Monday September 3rd, Labor day:
6:00 pm Holy Hour of Adoration followed by
7:00 pm Mass to pray for the victims of abuse and in reparation.

 

Please join the Priests of St Mary for this Holy Hour and Mass.

Letter from Fr. Mosimann to the Parents of the Parish

Letter from Fr. Mosimann to the Parents of the Parish

Dear Parents,

I have just come from the opening Mass of our parish school as we begin the school year. What a joy to see the energy and enthusiasm of the students on this day of new beginnings. Today is also the Feast of St. Monica, which reminds us of the extraordinarily powerful prayers of a mother! In order to be certain that all parents receive this letter, it will be sent both electronically and by physical mail.

The current circumstances in which we find ourselves as a Church make it more urgent than ever that we renew for you our commitment to ensure that in our schools and religious education programs we are doing everything we can to create a safe environment for your children. Once again, I reiterate that:

  1. Our diocese immediately reports all allegations of any kind of abuse or neglect of children to appropriate legal authorities.
  2. No priest or deacon against whom a substantiated claim of abuse has been made is currently serving in active ministry in our diocese.
  3. Since 2002, every allegation of sexual abuse on the part of clergy has been investigated by our Diocesan Review Board, which from its very beginning has always been comprised of a majority of laymen and laywomen.

Further, a revamped landing page on our diocesan website (www.ArlingtonDiocese.org/Child- Protection ) provides information and links to:

  • Diocesan policies that have been in place since 2002 to insure the protection of children and that provide a process for handling allegations of sexual abuse on the part of clergy.
  • Bishop Burbidge’s public statements and podcasts in which he has addressed these sensitive issues.

On behalf of all of the priests serving here at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, I assure you of the personal commitment of each one of us to strive daily to be faithful to the commitments we have made never to harm and only to protect and care for the safety and security of the children and young people of our parish and Church.

Let us together continue to pray for the safety and security of our children, for the healing of victims of abuse, and that we might do all that we can to ensure that the wrong-doing and the evil of the past are never repeated in the future.

Sincerely in Christ

Reverend John Mosimann, Pastor

Pulpit Announcements

Pulpit Announcements

The Manna Project Food Drive will be held September 8 & 9. Please bring non-perishables and monetary donations to Mass next weekend.
Knights of Columbus #4034 Freedom 5k Registration is open! More information on bulletin page 9
During overnight Adoration on Wednesday-Thursday and Thursday-Friday the doors will be locked from midnight until 5am.
Urgent need for two permanent adorers Thursdays 12-1pm. We also need additional permanent adorers for Thursday 3-4pm & 5-6pm.
Please email adoration@stmaryfred.org to sign up!
From Our Pastor

From Our Pastor

Dear Folks:

Two things: Job Announcement and Prayers of Reparation for Sins of the Clergy.
1.  Now Hiring at St. Mary’s!  This will be the strangest job announcement ever.  Why?  Because it will be broad and wide.
Recently our Facilities Manager moved to a position teaching at John Paul 2 High School.  So we need a new facilities manager, right?  Well I also need an executive assistant.  And we might need more administrative help in the office.  How can I be advertising 3 positions and hire one person?  Because there are options on current staff for shuffling around responsibilities, and so the exact skillset that we need depends on possible restructuring and what your gifts might be.
What am I looking for?  Someone high in energy, organized, who loves the Church and our Parish.  Is that you?  I have found that the most important thing is getting the right folks on the team.  Do you have experience in any/all of: facilities management, or office administration, or being executive assistant or just being an awesome worker?  Please send a resume and a cover letter to the parish office by the close of business on Friday September 7th.  Tell me why you want to work for St. Mary of the IC, and how your skillset would help our parish flourish!
2.  Prayers of reparation for Sins of the Clergy:
Last week we published the Bishop’s letter, where he asked for priests to offer Mass, penance, and prayers of reparation for the Sins of the Clergy.  Many of you have expressed your support and desire to share in these prayers.  To that end, the most immediate opening on the calendar is Labor day.  Thus:
Monday September 3rd, Labor day:
6:00 pm Holy Hour of Adoration  followed by
7:00 pm Mass to pray for the victims of abuse and in reparation.
There has been much said, including a moving letter from our Holy Father, referencing the words of St. Paul, “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it” (1 Cor 12:26).   Thank you Pope Francis.  Her is a link to his letter: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-08/pope-francis-letter-people-of-god-sexual-abuse.html
Here also is a link to another letter from our Bishop:  http://www.arlingtondiocese.org/lettertothefaithful/  Pull quote: “Policies are essential, and they must continue to be implemented and followed. This crisis, however, is not only about policies — it is about evil, the moral failings of priests, and at times a lack of courage and integrity on the part of bishops and other Church leaders.”
Here is a link to last Sunday’s homily by Fr. Scalia, the diocesan Vicar of Clergy.  https://soundcloud.com/user-313646089/evil-days  I was struck by his words on how to direct anger in a righteous direction.
Christ has walked the path of betrayal before.  He has carried the price of our shame.  Let us walk with him and console the Heart of the Lord by walking with him and all innocent victims.
pax,
fr mosimann