Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church

Dear Folks,

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend! And in an annual tradition that is important to me and maybe a few other people, here is this year ’s list of

10 things I am thankful for:

1. Jayden Daniels, the home football team has a quarterback finally!

2. Renewed my working on exercise and diet to trim down. I had a setback with vertigo in ’24, but am back to it!

3. Crabcakes at Timbuktu in Maryland: Wow. Best Crabcakes I have ever had. Even with #2, I still get to enjoy food sometimes!

4. Vertigo: a health setback, yes, but trying to thank God for all things!

5. Poland: this year’ s pilgrimage was one of the best! Got to see that Saint Maximilian Kolbe ’s desk was messier than mine!

6. Rectory life: we have a great lineup of priests at St. Mary IC!

7. Gilded Conquer x12 — yes, it is a video game thing which was in the bulletin as an ‘easter egg,’ and one parishioner asked me about it.

8. Wrightsville Beach, NC: my friend is pastor there, and the church beachfront, but I still wouldn’t trade parishes with him!

9. Family: Much of my family went on the Poland pilgrimage, and it was beautiful to see my two families (siblings and parish) together and loving the Lord!

10. HCA kids wearing orange T-shirts with my name and favorite phrase, “Thx be to God!”

As today is the feast of Christ the King, expect to holler “Viva!” at Mass as the response whenever I say, “Viva Christo Rey!” And If you are at another Mass, but see me in the parking lot, don’t be afraid to give a shout out for the King of the Universe!

And finally, with next Sunday being the first Sunday of Advent, please remember that our 7pm Mass on Sunday night will be a candlelight Mass! We will turn down the lights and add more candles and get into the advent mood!

pax et bonum,

Father John Mosimann

Dear Folks,

Here in the month of November, it struck me as a good time to address a question that I often receive about cremation.

Is it permissible? In a simple word yes, with a caveat that it must not be chosen as a sign of denial of the Resurrection. The recent history of cremation is that in the 1917 code of canon law [Canon Law = Catholic Church law], cremation was expressly forbidden for Catholics.

However, as interest in cremation grew in the western world, a concession was granted in 1963 which was incorporated into the 1983 (and still current) code of canon law. Canon 1176 reads: “The Church earnestly recommends that the pious custom of burying the bodies of the deceased be observed; nevertheless, the Church does not prohibit cremation unless it was chosen for reasons contrary to Christian doctrine.”

Because we firmly believe that our bodies will one day share in the resurrection of Our Lord, we must treat them with the respect, reverence, and due care. Yes, at the final resurrection, God will resurrect the bodies of everyone who has ever lived and died, whether they were cremated or not, whether any mortal remains still exist or even if every trace of their remains has disappeared.

One very important element is that cremated remains deserve the same respect, reverence, and due care as bodies which are not cremated. This includes the use of a worthy vessel to contain the ashes, the manner in which they are carried, appropriate placement and transport, and given final disposition in a earthen tomb, mausoleum, columbarium or common grave in a cemetery. “The practice of scattering cremated remains on the sea, from the air, or on the ground, or in keeping cremated remains in the home of a friend or relative of the deceased are not the reverent disposition that the Church requires.”(Liturgical Norms on Cremation, 417).

In local cemeteries, we do have people whose cremated remains are buried in graves. Additionally, because of the requests, cemeteries have built columbaria for those who wish to exercise this option. Yes, the Church does express a strong preference for the burial of the body rather than cremation. A funeral Mass with a full coffin has an impact which is lessened by cremation because the urn is a step removed from the size, shape and impact of the body being present. It most clearly brings to mind the life and death of the beloved one, and clearly expresses the loss experienced by every friend, relative, and loved one of the deceased.

While Holy Mother Church expresses this strong preference she also wishes to assist her children who chose the option of cremation for a variety of reasons. Hence the insistence on reverent treatment and burial of cremated remains. All of the faithful benefit from the witness to our faith in the resurrection and the beautiful ability to visit the graves of our loved ones.

May each of us, immersed in the mysteries of eternal life with Jesus in our resurrected bodies, take great hope that this is our future!

pax,

Very Reverend John P. Mosimann

The first altar server training sessions scheduled for Tuesday November 12 is canceled.  We will start the training on Nov 19 instead.