Express Announcements ~ January 31, 2016

Express Announcements ~ January 31, 2016

* Plan to support the work of the Catholic Church in the annual Bishop’s Lenten Appeal: If we reflect on the mission that Jesus has given us, and the words of Pope Francis, the Church is uniquely placed by God to be his agent of mercy and change, to heal our world. Prayerfully think of how you will respond to this call. Commitment Sunday will be February 6-7 at all Masses. Your generosity is what makes our Church’s response possible. “Go forth as heralds of God’s mercy!”

* Host sign-ups open this weekend for our Lenten/Easter Small Groups Series, “The Face of Mercy.” Information may be found on page 7 today and our website, www.stmaryfred.org,.

* Come to our School Open Houses February 7. Visit Saint Mary Preschool in the Parish Life Center from 9:30– Noon and Holy Cross Academy 1–3pm (250 Stafford Lakes Pkwy, behind Geico)

* Mark your calendars for February 17 and join Saint Mary in Richmond for  Catholics in the Capitol as we meet with our Legislators and attend the Bishops’ Evening Prayer and reception at Sacred Heart Cathedral (see p. 11). We need to know if you plan to come no later than Monday, February 1.

* We’re doing something special for the Year of Mercy: Parish Lent Mercy Penance Service, Wednesday, February 24. Plan to come, details to follow soon.

From Our Pastor ~ January 31, 2016

From Our Pastor ~ January 31, 2016

Dear Good People of Saint Mary,

Last weekend was surreal for a place that is normally so filled with people. We had between one person (7pm Sat.) and about 250 (5pm Sun.) and anywhere in between at the other Masses. We went ahead and kept all Masses for the weekend so that brave souls who might venture out would not be frustrated finding that Mass was canceled. We shoveled pretty much all weekend, trying to keep ahead of the storm (and then clean up) to be ready for those who did attend.

I seldom speak about money at Saint Mary, because we generally are moving along fine with our weekly offertory, making our payroll, paying bills and covering our $42K/month mortgage payment on all the renovations which we completed five years ago. The parish voted, when our renovations began seven years ago, to avoid a capital campaign and pay off our debt through the monthly collection and a building fund envelope every month.

This week I have one favor to ask: when it snows like this and we lose, virtually, an entire collection, it is a hard hit for the parish, about $32,000. We rely on every collection, our budgets don’t allow for savings. So if you would, please remember the collection that we lost and help us catch up. (And pray we don’t have another snow Sunday!)

While talking with a Methodist pastor friend of mine, I asked if they were dependent on weekly offertory like we were. He said no, in fact, 80% of their budget was covered with electronic automatic transfers/payments and their endowment. Ours is more likely 20% electronic now (thanks, those of you who have enrolled) and we have no endowment.

Well, last week I was a little down due to the fact that I had signed 2,700+ letters to those who had contributed nothing on paper to the parish. In that letter I reflected on the many reasons why this might be happening. I hope we will distribute two bulletins this weekend so that you can see both of them, as some information has changed.

But this past week I had the time to really look  over and sign all the 2,500+ letter of people who did give to the parish, some a lot, some a little—all very much appreciated. Some people are very generous. Of those who use envelopes, the average is about $17 a week, which represents a profound commitment to the parish. I’m so glad I signed these letters last, because I was left with a powerful thankfulness for all of you who keep the mission of Saint Mary alive. Thank you.

I want to say all of this because, as you know, the Bishops’ Lenten Appeal comes next weekend. The work of the diocese is very important, we must—all of us—support this work that is regional unless we become selfish, even as a parish. Bishop Loverde asks that each and every family make some form of a pledge—even if it is a small amount each month for a few months—to live out our regional responsibility as a local church of Arlington. (So much of it benefits us here in Fredericksburg, anyway.)

That said, I think sometimes we focus so much on other charities that we forget our own parish. An example of this was the outpouring of your loving support for so many charities and collections prior to Christmas—then our Christmas collection itself, about $52K, was $10K below what we had budgeted, based on the previous year’s Christmas offertory. And Masses were fuller than ever…

Last year we went $45K over our goal for the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal, and so our goal has been raised this year by $25K, to $395,000. This seems like a big amount – but if those 2,500 families who give would pledge $10 a month for 6 months, we would be mostly there. Of course, for those who do more, your continued support is very much appreciated.

Let’s try this again this year. Commitment Sunday is next weekend, when we fill out our pledge cards for the Diocese of Arlington. Let’s not put this off, and get it done in a couple of weeks, and make our goal. We will continue to publish our progress in making our goal for the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal. Once it is met, we’re done. If you forget to respond in time before we meet our goal and still want to give, I ask you to consider Saint Mary. That way, the diocese receives what is our obligation to give, and we can start to build a financial cushion in the parish that will help snowy weekends be less worrisome. Thanks.

God bless you,

Fr. Don

Meditation on 24 January 2016 readings

Meditation on 24 January 2016 readings

Direct Link to Audio File: Meditation on 24 January readings

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1   NEH 8:2-4A, 5-6, 8-10

Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly,
which consisted of men, women,
and those children old enough to understand.
Standing at one end of the open place that was before the Water Gate,
he read out of the book from daybreak till midday,
in the presence of the men, the women,
and those children old enough to understand;
and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law.
Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform
that had been made for the occasion.
He opened the scroll
so that all the people might see it
— for he was standing higher up than any of the people —;
and, as he opened it, all the people rose.
Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God,
and all the people, their hands raised high, answered,
“Amen, amen!”
Then they bowed down and prostrated themselves before the LORD,
their faces to the ground.
Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God,
interpreting it so that all could understand what was read.
Then Nehemiah, that is, His Excellency, and Ezra the priest-scribe
and the Levites who were instructing the people
said to all the people:
“Today is holy to the LORD your God.
Do not be sad, and do not weep”—
for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.
He said further: “Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks,
and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared;
for today is holy to our LORD.
Do not be saddened this day,
for rejoicing in the LORD must be your strength!”

Responsorial Psalm   PS 19:8, 9, 10, 15

R. (cf John 6:63c) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Reading 2   1 COR 12:12-30

Brothers and sisters:
As a body is one though it has many parts,
and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

Now the body is not a single part, but many.
If a foot should say,
“Because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body,”
it does not for this reason belong any less to the body.
Or if an ear should say,
“Because I am not an eye I do not belong to the body,”
it does not for this reason belong any less to the body.
If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be?
If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
But as it is, God placed the parts,
each one of them, in the body as he intended.
If they were all one part, where would the body be?
But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you,”
nor again the head to the feet, “I do not need you.”
Indeed, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker
are all the more necessary,
and those parts of the body that we consider less honorable
we surround with greater honor,
and our less presentable parts are treated with greater propriety,
whereas our more presentable parts do not need this.
But God has so constructed the body
as to give greater honor to a part that is without it,
so that there may be no division in the body,
but that the parts may have the same concern for one another.
If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it;
if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy.

Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.
Some people God has designated in the church
to be, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers;
then, mighty deeds;
then gifts of healing, assistance, administration,
and varieties of tongues.
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers?
Do all work mighty deeds? Do all have gifts of healing?
Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?

Or   1 COR 12:12-14, 27

Brothers and sisters:
As a body is one though it has many parts,
and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.
Now the body is not a single part, but many.
You are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.

Alleluia   CF. LK 4:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor,
and to proclaim liberty to captives.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel   LK 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events
that have been fulfilled among us,
just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning
and ministers of the word have handed them down to us,
I too have decided,
after investigating everything accurately anew,
to write it down in an orderly sequence for you,
most excellent Theophilus,
so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings
you have received.

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit,
and news of him spread throughout the whole region.
He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,
and went according to his custom
into the synagogue on the sabbath day.
He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them,
“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Express Announcements ~ January 24, 2016

Express Announcements ~ January 24, 2016

* Plan to support the work of the Catholic Church in the annual Bishop’s Lenten Appeal: If we reflect on the mission that Jesus has given us, and the words of Pope Francis, the Church is uniquely placed by God to be his agent of mercy and change, to heal our world. Prayerfully think of how you will respond to this call. Commitment Sunday will be February 6-7 at all Masses. Your generosity is what makes our Church’s response possible. “Go forth as heralds of God’s mercy!”

* Host sign-ups will open next weekend for our Lenten/Easter Small Groups Series, “The Face of Mercy.”  Information may be found on page 7 today and our website, www.stmaryfred.org, begining next weekend.

* Come to our School Open Houses February 7. Visit Saint Mary Preschool in the Parish Life Center from 9:30– Noon and Holy Cross Academy 1–3pm (250 Stafford Lakes Pkwy, behind Geico)

* Mark your calendars for February 17 and join Saint Mary in Richmond for Catholics in the Capitol as we meet with our Legislators and attend the Bishops’ Evening Prayer and reception at Sacred Heart Cathedral (see p. 11). We need to know if you plan to come by Monday, January 25.

* We’re doing something special for the Year of Mercy: Parish Lent Mercy Penance Service, Wednesday, February 24. Plan to come, details to follow soon.