Lowery's Lines

Post date: Jan 2, 2016 10:47:21 PM

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Many thanks to everyone who helps make our Christmas celebrations wonderful experiences: all our liturgical ministers, art & environment, musicians, vocalists, hospitality ministers, and to everyone for participating so fully! I want to thank the Parish Pastoral Council for their efforts at providing this year’s gift of the book Rediscover Jesus by Matthew Kelly. Beginning around the season of Lent prayer and discussion groups will be formed to encourage as many people as possible to read and reflect on the content of the book and on who Jesus is for each of us, as well as who he is calling us to be. Lent starts in about six weeks, so be on the lookout for information on these groups that will be forming.

God’s blessing be with you and your relatives and friends as we enjoy this “most wonderful time of the year!”

Fr. Shaun

Mary, Mother of God January 1, 2016

Mary is called the Mother of God because she is the “mother of the divine redeemer.” She conceived, brought forth and nourished the Son of God here on earth. While she is subordinate to her Son, she is greater than all the saints.

Mary has a unique role to play in our history of salvation. Her consent without hesitation to accept God’s Will at the Annunciation has had a salutary influence on the whole human family. She brought Life to the whole human family. Since she is the Mother of the Son of God, Mother of the Church and our Mother who brings us to her Son, it is most fitting that we honor her in a special way.

Today, is an appropriate day to honor Mary as she stands first among all the saints, and brings forth the Great Peacemaker to the human family.

Blessing

Lord, Mary’s child, make us as a human family an instrument of your peace: 

  • Where there is hatred, let us sow love. 
  • Where there is injury, pardon. 
  • Where there is doubt, faith. 
  • Where there is darkness, light. 
  • Where there is sadness, joy. 
  • Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, 
  • To be understood as to understand,
  • to be loved as to love. 
  • For it is giving that we receive. 
  • It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, 
  • And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

(Adapted from the writings of St. Francis de Sales)