September 26-27

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

Today we commemorate Christ. Today we commemorate Catechetical Sunday, recognizing the beginning of this year’s instructing our young parishioners in the love of God and the practice of the Faith. Parents, of course, are the first and foremost educators of their children in the ways of the Faith and emphatically made that commitment on the day of their child’s baptism. However, in order to assist parents in this awesome duty, pastors are morally obliged to provide guidance, encouragement, and resources for parents. Obviously, a pastor cannot do this on his own, and therefore, relies on selfless and committed workers in the vineyard to assist him and you. We are blessed to have an astounding grove of catechists and director of Faith Formation in our parish. At our 10:30 Mass we shall recognize them and invoke God’s blessing upon them. We are deeply grateful for their service to our children and their parents.

This past year, your priests have been offering a holy hour with Confessions on the Wednesday evenings before First Friday. It seems that this was not and opportune time for parishioners since few or no one attended. Therefore, we will cancel that particular service. Instead, the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered EVERY Saturday morning from 10:30am until Noon in St. Mary Magdalen. In the event of a Saturday morning funeral, Confessions will be heard at St. John’s. Because of the COVID restrictions and the virtual catechesis of our young, we encourage parents to bring their families to the Saturday morning Confession.

We enter this week into the month of the Rosary. Family life willingly grows stronger if families will pray together the Rosary. You are inviting the Lord and Our Blessed Mother into your homes. There is no better way to bring harmony and peace into family life. Please remember that we have our annual Rosary Rally in Central Park on Saturday, October 10 beginning at 2:00 PM. Let us come together as witnesses to the Faith and the power to heal the ills of our country.

Finally, next Sunday, October 4 is the Feast of the beloved St. Francis of Assisi. As is our custom, there will be the blessing of your pets in St. Mary Magdalen parking lot at Noon.

With Blessings,
Father Langan