From the Pastor:
Congratulations to all the parishioners of St Mary Parish! They are celebrating this Sunday, with Bishop Thomas, 75 years as a parish. Although their actual anniversary was this past Monday, they are officially recognizing their important anniversary date this Sunday. Doing so is most fitting since Sunday is the Lord's Day, the one day of the week that is different from the rest. On this special day, which is completely dedicated to God, we break from the normal worldly busyness and business to acknowledge the blessings we have received from God and to give thanks to God for them.
The anniversary celebration for the parishioners of St Mary of the Snows is about giving thanks to God for 75 years of blessings! During that time, they have received countless blessings from God. First, they celebrate the gift of each new person that came into their parish community over these past 75 years. Most of them came through conception and birth, but others were adults who converted to the Catholic faith, such as those we are reading about each week in the bulletin. If you haven’t already, be sure to read about Leah and Isabelle in last week’s bulletin.
Secondly, as a parish family, with our hearts and minds directed toward God our Father, we acknowledge, and then with profound humility and gratitude, thank God for all the spiritual blessings we have received. We thank God not just for the gift of physical life, but for the guidance and grace given to us each day for spiritual life, whose goal is full union with God and our brothers and sisters in heaven. It is only there that we experience the "fullness of life" that we hear about in the Eucharistic prayer at Mass.
Thirdly, after Mass they are enjoying a catered banquet lunch, complete with cake and a strawberry shortcake bar! Their celebration would not be complete without at least one of these! Fr. Kishore, Fr. Evarist, and I extend our deepest appreciation and gratitude to all the parishioners of St Mary of the Snows for what they have accomplished and will continue to accomplish in the years ahead.
Now looking at the calendar for later this week, please note that Thursday is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven. It is a holy day of obligation, meaning Catholics are required to attend Mass. The reason for this isn't simply to honor Mary, but for us to understand what her assumption means for us. Unlike Jesus who ascended into heaven with His own power, Mary was taken up into heaven - body and soul - by God at the end of her life on earth.
It’s important to understand that Mary is uniquely special and glorified not simply because she gave birth to Jesus, but because she did the will of God perfectly each day of her earthly life. Although she could have chosen to sin, she chose not to do so, even as a young girl. Faith and faithfulness to God meant more to her than anything else. She is the perfect disciple and the model for every Christian. This is what we celebrate this Thursday, and ask her prayers for us to do the same!
Sincerely,
Fr. Miller
From the Pastor:
Congratulations to all the parishioners of St Mary Parish! They are celebrating this Sunday, with Bishop Thomas, 75 years as a parish. Although their actual anniversary was this past Monday, they are officially recognizing their important anniversary date this Sunday. Doing so is most fitting since Sunday is the Lord's Day, the one day of the week that is different from the rest. On this special day, which is completely dedicated to God, we break from the normal worldly busyness and business to acknowledge the blessings we have received from God and to give thanks to God for them.
The anniversary celebration for the parishioners of St Mary of the Snows is about giving thanks to God for 75 years of blessings! During that time, they have received countless blessings from God. First, they celebrate the gift of each new person that came into their parish community over these past 75 years. Most of them came through conception and birth, but others were adults who converted to the Catholic faith, such as those we are reading about each week in the bulletin. If you haven’t already, be sure to read about Leah and Isabelle in last week’s bulletin.
Secondly, as a parish family, with our hearts and minds directed toward God our Father, we acknowledge, and then with profound humility and gratitude, thank God for all the spiritual blessings we have received. We thank God not just for the gift of physical life, but for the guidance and grace given to us each day for spiritual life, whose goal is full union with God and our brothers and sisters in heaven. It is only there that we experience the "fullness of life" that we hear about in the Eucharistic prayer at Mass.
Thirdly, after Mass they are enjoying a catered banquet lunch, complete with cake and a strawberry shortcake bar! Their celebration would not be complete without at least one of these! Fr. Kishore, Fr. Evarist, and I extend our deepest appreciation and gratitude to all the parishioners of St Mary of the Snows for what they have accomplished and will continue to accomplish in the years ahead.
Now looking at the calendar for later this week, please note that Thursday is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven. It is a holy day of obligation, meaning Catholics are required to attend Mass. The reason for this isn't simply to honor Mary, but for us to understand what her assumption means for us. Unlike Jesus who ascended into heaven with His own power, Mary was taken up into heaven - body and soul - by God at the end of her life on earth.
It’s important to understand that Mary is uniquely special and glorified not simply because she gave birth to Jesus, but because she did the will of God perfectly each day of her earthly life. Although she could have chosen to sin, she chose not to do so, even as a young girl. Faith and faithfulness to God meant more to her than anything else. She is the perfect disciple and the model for every Christian. This is what we celebrate this Thursday, and ask her prayers for us to do the same!
Sincerely,
Fr. Miller
From the Pastor:
Congratulations to all the parishioners of St Mary Parish! They are celebrating this Sunday, with Bishop Thomas, 75 years as a parish. Although their actual anniversary was this past Monday, they are officially recognizing their important anniversary date this Sunday. Doing so is most fitting since Sunday is the Lord's Day, the one day of the week that is different from the rest. On this special day, which is completely dedicated to God, we break from the normal worldly busyness and business to acknowledge the blessings we have received from God and to give thanks to God for them.
The anniversary celebration for the parishioners of St Mary of the Snows is about giving thanks to God for 75 years of blessings! During that time, they have received countless blessings from God. First, they celebrate the gift of each new person that came into their parish community over these past 75 years. Most of them came through conception and birth, but others were adults who converted to the Catholic faith, such as those we are reading about each week in the bulletin. If you haven’t already, be sure to read about Leah and Isabelle in last week’s bulletin.
Secondly, as a parish family, with our hearts and minds directed toward God our Father, we acknowledge, and then with profound humility and gratitude, thank God for all the spiritual blessings we have received. We thank God not just for the gift of physical life, but for the guidance and grace given to us each day for spiritual life, whose goal is full union with God and our brothers and sisters in heaven. It is only there that we experience the "fullness of life" that we hear about in the Eucharistic prayer at Mass.
Thirdly, after Mass they are enjoying a catered banquet lunch, complete with cake and a strawberry shortcake bar! Their celebration would not be complete without at least one of these! Fr. Kishore, Fr. Evarist, and I extend our deepest appreciation and gratitude to all the parishioners of St Mary of the Snows for what they have accomplished and will continue to accomplish in the years ahead.
Now looking at the calendar for later this week, please note that Thursday is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven. It is a holy day of obligation, meaning Catholics are required to attend Mass. The reason for this isn't simply to honor Mary, but for us to understand what her assumption means for us. Unlike Jesus who ascended into heaven with His own power, Mary was taken up into heaven - body and soul - by God at the end of her life on earth.
It’s important to understand that Mary is uniquely special and glorified not simply because she gave birth to Jesus, but because she did the will of God perfectly each day of her earthly life. Although she could have chosen to sin, she chose not to do so, even as a young girl. Faith and faithfulness to God meant more to her than anything else. She is the perfect disciple and the model for every Christian. This is what we celebrate this Thursday, and ask her prayers for us to do the same!
Sincerely,
Fr. Miller
From the Pastor:
Congratulations to all the parishioners of St Mary Parish! They are celebrating this Sunday, with Bishop Thomas, 75 years as a parish. Although their actual anniversary was this past Monday, they are officially recognizing their important anniversary date this Sunday. Doing so is most fitting since Sunday is the Lord's Day, the one day of the week that is different from the rest. On this special day, which is completely dedicated to God, we break from the normal worldly busyness and business to acknowledge the blessings we have received from God and to give thanks to God for them.
The anniversary celebration for the parishioners of St Mary of the Snows is about giving thanks to God for 75 years of blessings! During that time, they have received countless blessings from God. First, they celebrate the gift of each new person that came into their parish community over these past 75 years. Most of them came through conception and birth, but others were adults who converted to the Catholic faith, such as those we are reading about each week in the bulletin. If you haven’t already, be sure to read about Leah and Isabelle in last week’s bulletin.
Secondly, as a parish family, with our hearts and minds directed toward God our Father, we acknowledge, and then with profound humility and gratitude, thank God for all the spiritual blessings we have received. We thank God not just for the gift of physical life, but for the guidance and grace given to us each day for spiritual life, whose goal is full union with God and our brothers and sisters in heaven. It is only there that we experience the "fullness of life" that we hear about in the Eucharistic prayer at Mass.
Thirdly, after Mass they are enjoying a catered banquet lunch, complete with cake and a strawberry shortcake bar! Their celebration would not be complete without at least one of these! Fr. Kishore, Fr. Evarist, and I extend our deepest appreciation and gratitude to all the parishioners of St Mary of the Snows for what they have accomplished and will continue to accomplish in the years ahead.
Now looking at the calendar for later this week, please note that Thursday is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven. It is a holy day of obligation, meaning Catholics are required to attend Mass. The reason for this isn't simply to honor Mary, but for us to understand what her assumption means for us. Unlike Jesus who ascended into heaven with His own power, Mary was taken up into heaven - body and soul - by God at the end of her life on earth.
It’s important to understand that Mary is uniquely special and glorified not simply because she gave birth to Jesus, but because she did the will of God perfectly each day of her earthly life. Although she could have chosen to sin, she chose not to do so, even as a young girl. Faith and faithfulness to God meant more to her than anything else. She is the perfect disciple and the model for every Christian. This is what we celebrate this Thursday, and ask her prayers for us to do the same!
Sincerely,
Fr. Miller