From Our Pastor ~ June 19, 2016

From Our Pastor ~ June 19, 2016

Dear Good People of Saint Mary,

Thanks for a great picnic! We had a great day and a record turnout. The food was great, the music was beautiful, and despite the heat it wasn’t humid and a wonderful breeze prevailed all afternoon. I’m glad so many came out to Holy Cross Academy to experience our big parish family event of the year.

Thanks to our Knights of Columbus, our Council of Catholic Women, our school PTO and volunteers of all parish ministries who came together to give us such a  beautiful afternoon together. I smiled every time reading the announcement for the Parish Picnic and Family Fun Day because few probably know the back story any more. When I came here in October 2002, it was just as the regional sniper shootings were taking place, remember? That year the Knights canceled the Parish Picnic, which was then a separate event from the HCA Family Fun Day at the end of the school year. When we came to the spring in 2003, it just seemed normal to begin combining the two, as a sign of  parish unity between school and parish, something that we needed to intentionally promote in those days. Today Holy Cross Academy is an integral part of our parish life and we are so grateful to  the Oblate Sisters and all our school teachers and staff for their sacrifices in caring for our parish children. Of all the blessings I’ve known  here at Saint Mary, that school is one of the greatest and I have come to know our Sisters as if they were my sisters. Always cherish their presence here, and care for them. And pray for vocations. Like Bishop Keating, I had promised them numerous vocations from Saint Mary while here, and I didn’t come through! Keep praying for them and their beautiful order of Sisters, for young women who are brave and can become holy community leaders to help shepherd God’s children.

This week we offer special thanks to Fr. Lino and his years at Saint Mary, and wish him joy. Father, may God continue to bless your ministry.

Last weekend was rough, as we announced the changes. I appreciate the outpouring of love and good will, and will miss this place like no other before in my life. It was true when I said that I’ve never “attached” to a place as I have done here. I feel as though I’m leaving home. We’ve shared a lot of life—good things and bad, fireworks and construction, baptisms, weddings and funerals— and I am grateful for your letting me be a part of your family. Such a great parish—and now it is up to you and Father Mosimann to carry it forward. Don’t leave it up to someone else to make your home a place where you want to be.

There is a message in all of this for you young people, too—graduates, even young adults. Take care of your interior life, your heart with God. Don’t leave the direction of your life up to chance, or to strangers. They don’t know you, and probably don’t know what is good for you. The world is confused. Spend some time each day working on your relationship with Jesus. We have a family, we gather with God regularly and come together in celebration and service, and in the process we come to know who we are. We  are formed on the rock of Christ’s Church, an we have encountered God in so many ways. New life comes only from him. There is no need to drift away, or to decide for some reason that it all doesn’t matter. It does, very much. I hope by now you know that you always have a home here. I plan to be around, now and then, to rely on roots that I have found in Fredericksburg.

I have watched you change over these years from a parish that was preoccupied with self to a family who looks outward and transforms even the community around you. The community loves Saint Mary and knows us as authentic partners in prayer and service, in Christ’s name. Continue to be a light to Fredericksburg.

There are two main themes we have returned to repeatedly: mercy and discipleship. Approach every person in reverence for God who made them, whose imprint they bear, act both as he would act in you toward others and, encountering them, how you would approach him in them with awe. Together, go out use your authentic gifts and serve Christ in every person, and let them know that it is Christ in you who serves them. In this way we are not only living the Gospel, we are the living Gospel.

Remember: God uses all things to stretch our hearts to be able to love more. I have felt so loved here at Saint Mary, it is now time to love your new pastor even more.

God bless you.

Fr. Don

Express Announcements ~ June 19, 2016

Express Announcements ~ June 19, 2016

* Stop by and say “see you in Stafford” to Fr. Lino at his farewell receptions following the 10:30am and 2pm Masses this weekend in the Parish Life Center. Stop by and wish him well, and thank him for all the goodness he has brought to our parish family.

* A Biblical Walk Through the Mass, summer bible study begins June 23 at 9:45am in the Courtyard Meeting Room and will continue for the following five Thursdays, Registration is required and there is a $ 10 fee to cover the cost of materials.

* Join us for a reception and program at Holy Cross Academy on June 24 at 7pm to thank Fr. Don for being our pastor for 14 years. See page 9 for more information.

* Save the date. Our next annual Called and Gifted Workshop will be held on August 26–27, 2016. Mark your calendars and invite your friends!

* Click here for Mass, Confession and Devotions Schedules

Meditation on June 12, 2016 readings

Meditation on June 12, 2016 readings

Direct Link to Audio File: Meditation on June 12, 2106 readings

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 2 Sm 12:7-10, 13

Nathan said to David:
“Thus says the LORD God of Israel:
‘I anointed you king of Israel.
I rescued you from the hand of Saul.
I gave you your lord’s house and your lord’s wives for your own.
I gave you the house of Israel and of Judah.
And if this were not enough, I could count up for you still more.
Why have you rejected the LORD and done evil in his sight?
You have cut down Uriah the Hittite with the sword;
you took his wife as your own,
and him you killed with the sword of the Ammonites.
Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house,
because you have looked down on me
and have taken the wife of Uriah to be your wife.’”

Then David said to Nathan,
“I have sinned against the LORD.”
Nathan answered David:
“The LORD on his part has forgiven your sin:
you shall not die.”

Responsorial Psalm Ps 32:1-2, 5, 7, 11

R. (cf. 5c) Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.
Blessed is the one whose fault is taken away,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt,
in whose spirit there is no guile.
R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.
I acknowledged my sin to you,
my guilt I covered not.
I said, “I confess my faults to the LORD,”
and you took away the guilt of my sin.
R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.
You are my shelter; from distress you will preserve me;
with glad cries of freedom you will ring me round.
R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you just;
exult, all you upright of heart.
R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.

Reading 2 Gal 2:16, 19-21

Brothers and sisters:
We who know that a person is not justified by works of the law
but through faith in Jesus Christ,
even we have believed in Christ Jesus
that we may be justified by faith in Christ
and not by works of the law,
because by works of the law no one will be justified.
For through the law I died to the law,
that I might live for God.
I have been crucified with Christ;
yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me;
insofar as I now live in the flesh,
I live by faith in the Son of God
who has loved me and given himself up for me.
I do not nullify the grace of God;
for if justification comes through the law,
then Christ died for nothing.

Alleluia 1 Jn 4:10b

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God loved us and sent his Son
as expiation for our sins.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 7:36—8:3

A Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him,
and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.
Now there was a sinful woman in the city
who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee.
Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment,
she stood behind him at his feet weeping
and began to bathe his feet with her tears.
Then she wiped them with her hair,
kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself,
“If this man were a prophet,
he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him,
that she is a sinner.”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“Simon, I have something to say to you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
“Two people were in debt to a certain creditor;
one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty.
Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both.
Which of them will love him more?”
Simon said in reply,
“The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.”
He said to him, “You have judged rightly.”

Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon,
“Do you see this woman?
When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet,
but she has bathed them with her tears
and wiped them with her hair.
You did not give me a kiss,
but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.
You did not anoint my head with oil,
but she anointed my feet with ointment.
So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven
because she has shown great love.
But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”
He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
The others at table said to themselves,
“Who is this who even forgives sins?”
But he said to the woman,
“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another,
preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.
Accompanying him were the Twelve
and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities,
Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza,
Susanna, and many others who provided for them
out of their resources.

Or Lk 7:36-50

A Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him,
and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.
Now there was a sinful woman in the city
who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee.
Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment,
she stood behind him at his feet weeping
and began to bathe his feet with her tears.
Then she wiped them with her hair,
kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself,
“If this man were a prophet,
he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him,
that she is a sinner.”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“Simon, I have something to say to you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
“Two people were in debt to a certain creditor;
one owed five hundred day’s wages and the other owed fifty.
Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both.
Which of them will love him more?”
Simon said in reply,
“The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.”
He said to him, “You have judged rightly.”

Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon,
“Do you see this woman?
When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet,
but she has bathed them with her tears
and wiped them with her hair.
You did not give me a kiss,
but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.
You did not anoint my head with oil,
but she anointed my feet with ointment.
So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven
because she has shown great love.
But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”
He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
The others at table said to themselves,
“Who is this who even forgives sins?”
But he said to the woman,
“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Express Announcements ~ June 12, 2016

Express Announcements ~ June 12, 2016

* Join us! Our PARISH PICNIC at Holy Cross Academy is TODAY, June 12, 3-7pm in the afternoon.

* The second collection this weekend is for the parish building fund.

* Save the date. Our next annual Called and Gifted Workshop will be held on August 26–27, 2016. Mark your calendars and invite your friends! Registration opens June 1.

* Join us for the Taizé Prayer Service on Monday, June 13 at 8:15pm. Now in our 9th year, we have met each month to pray for Christian unity in our community and in the world. All Christians are warmly invited; invite your friends! Please note that Taize for the month of July, will be moved to Monday, July 18 at 8:15pm.

* A Biblical Walk Through the Mass, summer bible study begins June 23 at 9:45am in the Courtyard Meeting Room and will continue for the following five Thursdays, Registration is required and there is a $ 10 fee to cover the cost of materials.

* Father Day Novena begins June 19. Cards and envelopes are available in the vestibule of the Church.

* Click here for Mass, Confession and Devotions Schedules