This past Friday, February 1st, marked the Feast day of Saint Brigid of Kildare, the patron saint of our Parish.   Saint Brigid is especially known for her Christian charity, for feeding the poor, and is celebrated for her generosity to those in need.   It was said that she could not bear to see anyone cold or hungry since she truly believed that Christ dwelt in every person.  She strived to work with the less fortunate with love and compassion.  Her love of God and love of neighbor were obvious to all who knew her.

Saint Brigid is also known for her great work in evangelization, working tirelessly to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.  She was an Irish Christian nun and abbess and founded many convents.  The publication, “Catholic News Agency” (CNA) stated, “St. Brigid directly influenced several other future saints of Ireland, and her many religious communities helped to secure the country’s conversion from paganism to the Catholic faith.”  Under her leadership, “Kildare played a major role in the successful Christianization of Ireland.  The abbess’ influence was felt in the subsequent era of the Irish Church, a time when the country became known for its many monasteries and their intellectual achievements.”  CNA also indicated that St. Brigid “…with an initial group of seven companions, is credited with organizing communal consecrated religious life for women in Ireland.”  She joins Saint Patrick as one of the patron saints of Ireland.  Saint Brigid lived in the fifth century and was a contemporary of Saint Patrick but there is no real evidence they ever met.

Saint Brigid was also a firm supporter of Catholic education, believing that the more we understood our faith, the more likely we would strive to truly live our faith.  She founded many schools and taught the faith by word and example.  She is recognized as the patron saint of students.

Saint Brigid truly embraced a life of prayer and service.  The following prayer asks for her intercession:

ASK FOR US ALL TODAY THE COURAGE TO DO GOD’S BIDDING

WHATEVER THE WORLD MAY SAY,

THE GRACE TO BE STRONG AND VALIENT

THE GRACE TO BE FIRM AND TRUE

THE GRACE TO BE FAITHFUL ALWAYS

TO GOD, GOD’S MOTHER AND YOU.

AMEN.

We are encouraged to learn more about Saint Brigid.  She can serve as a great role model for us.

Saint Brigid, intercede for us.

Saint Brigid, pray for us.

From our pastor, Father Neil Herlihy:

A Parish Mission can be viewed as an opportunity for spiritual healing, renewal, and reconciliation.  With an emphasis on love and mercy, it also can provide an opportunity to change hearts and transform lives as we renew and strengthen our relationship with Our Lord.  With this in mind, we are privileged to sponsor an Advent Parish Mission presented by the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist.  The Sisters clearly embrace the mission and spirit of Catholic teaching in word and example. 

As we know, Advent is a special time in the Church year as we prepare for the coming of the Lord.  Advent holds out the hope and desire to see the light of Christ shine thorough the darkness of our world.  At this special time, we are urged to remain watchful and vigilant as we wait in joyful anticipation for the coming of the Lord.  He is ready to come more fully into our homes. He is ready to come more fully into our lives.  He is ready to come more fully into our hearts.  This Christmas we are invited to give the Lord the gift of a pure heart.  During our Mission, the Sisters will focus on the Eucharist as the source and summit of our faith.  They will also focus on the spiritual integrity of mind and body reminding us that we are born to eternal life.  They will speak of the gift of the Christ Child that awaits us. They will help us to spiritually prepare for the coming of the Lord.

We invite you to come to this Mission.  Please invite your friends, especially those Catholics who may have been away from the Church for some time and for some reason.  Through God’s grace, you may be instrumental in getting your friends to return to the precious faith we love and cherish.

The Parish Mission will take place this Monday to Wednesday, December 9th to 11th.  There will be both morning and evening sessions for your convenience.  Then on Thursday, December 12th, we will have a Penance Service for all those in need of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  There will be priests from various parts of the Archdiocese who will hear confessions and extend the Lord’s pardon, mercy, and forgiveness.  Details concerning the Mission and Penance Service can be obtained from the Parish bulletin and website as well as from the Parish office.

I pray that you will participate in the Parish Mission and in the Penance Service and avail yourself of these special times of grace.

This Friday we celebrate the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  It is a holy day of obligation this year in the United States, and provides us with another opportunity to honor the Virgin Mary.   Mary is the mother of Jesus, the mother of our Church, and our mother.  She is a model of faithful discipleship.

Our Catechism states that “…the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death.  The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians.”

Our late Holy Father, Pope Francis, had a strong devotion to Mary.  Shortly before his death he encouraged Catholics to attend Mass, or visit a Marian shrine or pray before a statue of Mary, or acknowledge her in some special way on the feast of the Assumption.  Commenting on this feast, the media outlet, “Catholic News Agency”, reported that Pope Francis “reminded us that we are not alone on our journey, and are accompanied by Mary who ended her earthly pilgrimage with her Assumption into heaven.”  Pope Francis stated, “The Blessed Virgin is she who goes before us on the journey, reminding us all that our life is also a continuous journey toward the horizon of the final encounter with the Lord.”

The following “Our Lady of the Assumption” prayer encourages us to ask for Mary’s intercession as we continue on our journey:

O Mary, God’s Son became your Son
and you became both our Mother and our Queen.
From your heavenly throne,
intercede for your subjects
who are daily confronted with life’s trials.
Help us to find comfort in our recourse to you
and bring us closer to your Divine Son
whose glory and honor we proclaim forever
Amen

As we reflect on this prayer, we are reminded that we will have Masses at convenient time to celebrate this feast day.  Please check the Church bulletin or website for details.
Encouraged by the Assumption of Mary, we are challenged to keep our focus on the example of Mary as we continue on our journey of faith.

Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary, intercede for us.

Mary, Our Lady of the Assumption, pray for us.