8 February 2026 Bulletin
Click to read this week’s bulletin: 8 February 2026 Bulletin
Pilgrimage to Turkey with Canon Christopher Smith
Walk Where the Early Church Walked: A Parish Pilgrimage to Turkey with Our Pastor
Have you ever read the Acts of the Apostles or prayed the Nicene Creed and wondered what it would be like to stand in the very places where the early Church took root?
In June 2027, our pastor, Canon Christopher Smith, will lead a pilgrimage to Turkey, inviting us to step into the landscape of Scripture, councils, martyrs, and saints. This is more than a tour—it’s a prayerful journey designed to deepen faith, friendship, and understanding of who we are as Catholics.
Why Turkey?
Turkey is home to some of the most important sites in Christian history. On this pilgrimage, parishioners will visit:
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Ephesus, where St. Paul preached and where tradition holds the Blessed Virgin Mary spent her final years
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The House of the Virgin Mary, a place of quiet prayer and profound devotion
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Nicaea, where the Nicene Creed—professed at Mass every Sunday—was first proclaimed
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Istanbul (ancient Constantinople), a crossroads of Christianity, culture, and history
These are not just names on a page. They are places where the faith was lived, defended, and handed on—often at great cost.
A Pilgrimage, Not a Vacation
What sets this journey apart is its spiritual focus. Daily Mass, prayer, Scripture reflection, and thoughtful teaching will be woven throughout the trip. Canon Smith’s pastoral leadership and love for Church history will help bring each site to life, connecting what we see to what we believe.
You’ll travel alongside fellow parishioners, sharing meals, prayer, conversation, and unforgettable moments—forming bonds that often last long after the pilgrimage ends.
Who Is This For?
This pilgrimage is ideal for:
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Parishioners longing to go deeper in their faith
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Those curious about early Christianity and Church history
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Anyone seeking a meaningful, guided spiritual journey rather than a rushed sightseeing trip
No advanced knowledge is required—just an open heart and a willingness to walk where generations of Christians have gone before us.
Learn More & Take the Next Step
Details about the itinerary, dates, pricing, and registration are available through St. Charles Pilgrimages. If you’ve ever felt the nudge to make a pilgrimage, this may be that invitation—shared with your pastor and your parish family.
👉 Learn more and read the full pilgrimage details here:
St. Charles Pilgrimages – Canon Christopher Smith Pilgrimage to Turkey
Weather-related Schedule Changes
Please check this post before traveling to ensure you have the latest information.
As of 2 February at 2p (final update of Winter Storm Gianna)
Prince of Peace Catholic Church and School will be on regular schedule for Masses and Confessions, School, Office and Parish Activities beginning Tuesday, 3 February with 7a.
Both the 7a and 12p Mass will include the Blessing of Throats for the Feast of St Blaise (after Mass).
The Adoration Chapel will open after the 7a Mass on Wednesday, 4 February.
As of 1 February at 4.30p
On Monday, 2 February, there will be the blessing of candles and the low mass of the purification of the blessed Virgin Mary in Latin at 12 noon. Parishioners are encouraged to bring candles and to put them on the table in the sanctuary within the rail before Mass.
As of 1 February at 12p
POPCS will be e-learning on Monday as we await improvements to both road and campus conditions.
As of 31 January at 2.45p
Saturday, January 31
The parish is closed. There will be no Masses and no Confessions.
Sunday, February 1
We are planning the following liturgies:
- 3p – English Low Mass in the church (Fr. Tomlinson)
- 3p – Latin Low Mass in the chapel (Fr. Smith)
If the priests are unable to travel safely, the following will be offered instead:
- 3p – Liturgy of the Word with Communion (English, Dcn Cavin)
- 3.30p – Distribution of Holy Communion (Latin, Dcn Cavin)
If Fr. Davison is available, Confessions may be heard from 3-4p in the confessional.
Please note:
- The Sunday obligation is lifted.
- Parking lots, sidewalks, and entrances may not be free of ice or snow.
- Power outages are possible.
- Those who are sick, elderly, infirm, or caring for young children should not come if conditions are unsafe. No one is obliged to attend Mass when it would be imprudent to do so.
Outside of the 3p liturgies, the parish will remain closed on Sunday. There will be no other parish activities or liturgies.
Monday, February 2
There will be no Masses, no parish activities, and the parish office will be closed.
The Adoration Chapel remains closed until further notice.
We are grateful for your continued generosity and faithfulness to Prince of Peace. If you are able, please consider making your weekly offertory gift—either recurring or one-time. Your support helps sustain the mission of our parish and school, even during unexpected closures.
If you have not yet done so, we also invite you to make your one-time sacrificial gift or pledge to the Peace in Progress Capital Campaign.
As of 29 January at 6p
Saturday, 31 January: No 8a or 5p Masses; No Confessions; No parish activities
Monday, 2 February: No 7a or 7p Masses for Candlemas; 12p Mass was already cancelled. Office closed; No parish activities
* The school will communicate on Sunday what the plan is for Monday.
Adoration Chapel continues to remain closed until further notice.
Sunday plan will be announced Saturday afternoon after 2p. Watch this post for updates.
Please remember to go now to www.princeofpeacetaylors.org and click on the Donate button in the upper right hand corner today to make your recurring or one-time gift to the weekly operating offertory, and, if you have not already done so, make your one time sacrificial gift and pledge to the Peace in Progress Capital Campaign. Just like you, we will have bills needing to be paid and we also have employees that need their salaries, so don’t forget 🙂
Regarding Winter Storm Fern
As of 28 January at 3.30p
We look forward to welcoming parish school students back on campus tomorrow, 29 January. As temperatures remain low, there are still icy patches on campus. We ask all families to use extra caution when driving through morning and afternoon carlines to help keep everyone safe.
As of 28 January at 10a
Thursday and Friday 7a and 12N Mass will go on as normal.
Parish Office is open Thursday and Friday as normal, but we ask that people stay home unless absolutely necessary.
No evening activities Thursday and Friday in the parish.
The Adoration Chapel will open upon further notice, most likely next week.
Please watch for email, text and social media updates for this weekend’s scheduling.
The parish school will communicate their schedule to school families.
As of 27 January at 6p
Thank you for your continued patience and flexibility during this extended period of severe winter weather. After further assessment of campus conditions and local road reports, Prince of Peace Catholic School’s campus will continue with e-learning tomorrow.
As of 27 January at 11a
Introduction to Catholicism is canceled on Wednesday, 28 January.
As of 26 January at 9.30a
POPCS will remain on E-Learning on Tuesday, 27 January.
As of 25 January at 12p
- No public Masses in the church until Wednesday noon.
- Office closed until Wednesday noon.
- No confessions on Wednesday.
- There are no parish activities on the grounds until the parish re-opens.
As of 23 January at 5.45p
For the safety of our students, families, and faculty, Prince of Peace Catholic School will be closed on Monday, 26 January due to predicted ice and snow. We will move to an E-Learning Day so that learning can continue while keeping everyone safe.Teachers will share assignments and expectations through email and the information sent home today.
As of 22 January at 5.20p.
Weekend of 24-25 January at Prince of Peace
Here are the changes for this weekend at Prince of Peace:
- There is no Catechist In-Service this Saturday.
- The obligation for Mass is lifted this weekend, and no one should travel to attend Mass if doing so would endanger life and limb. But if you can safely join us for one of two Masses on Saturday afternoon, please do!
Low Masses will be celebrated at the following times on Saturday, 24 January:
- 3p English with Fr Davison
- 4p Latin with Fr Tomlinson
Confessions will be heard from 3-4p.
The Adoration Chapel will close on Saturday at 3p, and will reopen upon further notice.
There will be no public Masses in the church on Sunday, 25 January or 7a Mass on Monday, 26 January.
There are no parish activities on the grounds on Sunday or Monday until 12p.
The Parish Office will be closed on Monday. We ask that employees work remotely as best they can.
Please remember that, even when we are forced to close because of inclement weather, we still depend on your offertory. This is a great opportunity to set up online giving for the Weekly Offertory or the Peace in Progress Capital Campaign.
- School-related closures will be communicated by the school to those families.
The Great Nativity of Prince of Peace Catholic Church
LARGEST HAND CARVED, LIFESIZE NATIVITY SCENE IN THE STATE
WHAT: Lifesize Great Nativity scene designed and carved by Johanne Albl of ALBL Oberammergau, who has been in the business of woodworking and sacred art in Germany since 1556. The set is completely one-of-a-kind; no other pieces like this exist in the country and was paid for in total through private donations. It is the largest lifesize nativity scene in the state.
WHERE: Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 1209 Brush Creek Road, Taylors. The unveiling will take place in the main church.
ABOUT THE ARTIST: Johanne Albl of ALBL Oberammergau carved the Great Nativity from polychrome Lindenwood. The set is the largest ever commissioned in the family’s history. They are also one of the world’s leading firms for sacred art and architecture.
VIEWING:
- The Great Nativity at Prince of Peace can be seen in the church anytime between 7a and 7p every day until Sunday, February 2, 2026, the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. The wisemen begin in the Narthex and move toward the Holy Family with the Epiphany. The baby Jesus arrives on Christmas.
- The public is welcome at any time to visit, and is warmly invited to a candlelight Latin celebration of Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve or any of the Masses held at the Church
STATS AND FIGURES:
- 13: number of hand carved figures in the Great Nativity
- 1,600 pounds: weight of the camel, the heaviest wood sculpture the artist has ever created
ABOUT: The following can be attributed to Fr Christopher Smith, Pastor:
St Francis of Assisi, one of Christianity’s most beloved saints, is credited with the first Nativity scene. In 1223, while visiting Greccio, Italy, St Francis had the idea of helping people visualize what the birth of Christ was like to help them understand the love with which the Word became flesh. As St Bonaventure wrote of him, “Then he prepared a manger and brought hay and an ox and an ass to the place appointed. The brethren were summoned, the people ran together, the forest resounded with their voices, and that venerable night was made glorious by many brilliant lights and sonorous psalms of praise. The man of God [St. Francis] stood before the manger, full of devotion and piety, bathed in tears and radiant with joy. Then he preached to the people around the Nativity of the poor King; and being unable to utter His name for the tenderness of His love, he called Him the Babe of Bethlehem.”
When I was a seminarian in Rome, I was introduced to the very large Nativity sets and small reproductions of Bethlehem in the Italian tradition that major churches like the Basilica of Ss. Cosmas and Damian had, scenes which attracted visitors from all over because of their artistic splendor and devotional beauty. I was living in Chicago, when my parish, St John Cantius, fashioned an entire chapel to house an antique Baroque Neapolitan creche. One of the greatest parts of living in Europe was how people prepared for Christmas with the Advent Markets and then set up very large Nativity scenes in churches and homes.
ALBL Oberammergau in the Bavarian region of Germany is one of the world’s leading firms for sacred art and architecture. Since 1556, they have provided world class masterpieces for churches all over the world. When Prince of Peace renewed its adoration chapel in 2018, I found the very small statue of the Infant Jesus which was integrated into the altar. For several years now, I have been looking for a Nativity scene to rival those of the churches in Europe. Prince of Peace’s patronal feast as a parish is Christmas, and we have an amazing team of patrons and volunteers who every year do an amazing job of making our church look beautiful for the Christmas season. When I commissioned ALBL Oberammergau to create this new Nativity, I wanted something to add to the rich artistic patrimony of the parish, something of original and exquisite detail and craftsmanship. As the pandemic raged and we lost beloved members of our parish family to COVID, and we all felt so much darkness, I wanted to find something which could be a visible reminder of the light and joy of the Christmas miracle, that Jesus comes to dispel the darkness. It is the largest commission that ALBL has had in their 500 year history, and will be one of the largest Nativity sets in the country, all in a church dedicated to the Christmas season.
The Great Nativity at Prince of Peace is made of polychrome Lindenwood. The figures are all lifesize, and include the Virgin Mary holding Jesus, Joseph, an angel and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, shepherd, ox, donkey, sheep, lamb, and a camel which at 1600 pounds and 9 feet is larger than an actual camel.
When we engaged ALBL, I knew that funding such a unique piece of art that would be an inspiration for generations to come would be a challenge. Maria Rauch, the Parish Secretary at Prince of Peace, took up the cause of raising money. She was overseeing the decoration of the church the night before Christmas Eve three years ago when her husband suddenly died, leaving her with eight children. This is very much a labor of love of bringing beauty and joy from sorrow and pain. A team of parishioners gave donations to the project and even held a booksale whose proceeds went to defray the cost of the scene.
Angel, Mary, and Joseph
Camel
Mary and Jesus
Three Wise Men
Growing in Virtue: A New Free Resource for All Prince of Peace Families
Saturday, 20 September, 9a-12p in Croghan Hall
Join Sister John Dominic Rasmussen, O.P. and Fr. Christopher Smith to explore how Open Light Media’s free tools for all Prince of Peace families can help your children grow in character, emotional intelligence, and spiritual life—both at school and at home.
Why Virtue Education Matters More Than Ever
In education and parenting circles, “Social Emotional Learning” (SEL) and the “education of the whole person” have become buzzwords. But long before SEL was a trend, the Catholic Church gave us a roadmap for human flourishing: the virtues.
Open Light Media recognizes that Virtue Education is Catholic Social Emotional Learning. SEL and interpersonal neurobiology research have separately arrived at principles that align perfectly with the Cardinal Virtues:
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Self-Management → Temperance & Fortitude
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Responsible Decision-Making → Prudence & Fortitude
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Relational & Social Awareness → Justice
Through the virtues, the Church provides timeless guidance for our journey toward Heaven.
A Partnership for the Whole POP Community
Beginning this fall, all members of the Prince of Peace community—school families, Religious Education families, homeschoolers, and parishioners—will receive free access to Open Light Media’s engaging video-based resources.
The “Cultivating the Virtues” program invites participants to Learn, Live, Witness, and Pray about a new virtue each week. The bulletin will feature the “Virtue of the Week,” and both our school and Religious Education programs will integrate it into lessons. Parishioners and homeschool families are encouraged to watch the short, 2–3 minute videos from home to grow alongside our community.
Tools for Parents, Educators, and Caregivers
Open Light Media offers a rich library of programs designed to help Catholics of all ages live out the virtues:
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Raised in Grace – Foundational concepts of childhood development through the lens of interpersonal neurobiology and Catholic tradition.
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Learn the Virtues – A deep dive into the theological and cardinal virtues and how to cultivate them.
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Arise – A program for middle and high school students combining neurobiology insights with the call to holiness.
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And more – Opportunities for growth in virtue, vocation, and holiness for the entire family.
Don’t Miss This Special Event
We are excited to welcome Sister John Dominic—founder of Open Light Media and member of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist—to share the beauty of educating the whole person: body, mind, and soul. She will unpack how the virtues and insights from interpersonal neurobiology work together to form resilient, faithful young people.
📅 When: Saturday, 20 September
🕘 Time: 9a-12p
📍 Where: Croghan Hall, Prince of Peace Catholic Church
Come be inspired and equipped to help your children grow in virtue—because raising saints starts with living the virtues together.
16 February 2025 Bulletin
Click here to read this weekend’s bulletin: 16 February 2025 Bulletin
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