20 September 2020 Bulletin
Click to read this weekend’s bulletin: 20 September 2020
14 September 2020: Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
This feast day focus is on the cross itself and commemorates three historical events: the finding of the True Cross by Saint Helena; the dedication of the churches built by Constantine on the site of the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Calvary; and the restoration of the True Cross to Jerusalem by the emperor Heraclius II. After the resurrection of Christ, Jewish and Roman authorities tried to hide the Holy Sepulchre, Christ’s tomb. Earth was mounded up and pagan temples were built on top. Tradition said the Cross on which Christ had died had been hidden somewhere in the vicinity. Saint Helena (mother of the emperor Constantine) was divinely inspired to travel to Jerusalem in 326 to find the True Cross. Three crosses were found. Saint Helena and Saint Macarius, the bishop of Jerusalem, devised an experiment to determine which was the True Cross. The crosses were taken to a woman who was near death; when she touched the True Cross, she was healed. Another tradition says the body of a dead man was brought and laid upon each cross. The True Cross restored the dead man to life. Constantine constructed churches at the site of the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Calvary. Those churches were dedicated and the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was celebrated. The feast slowly spread from Jerusalem to other churches, until, by the year 720, the celebration was universal. In the early seventh century, the Persians conquered Jerusalem and captured the True Cross. Heraclius II defeated them and restored the True Cross to Jerusalem. Tradition says that he carried the Cross on his own back, but when he attempted to enter the church on Mount Calvary, a strange force stopped him. Patriarch Zacharias of Jerusalem, seeing the emperor struggling, advised him to take off his royal robes and crown and to dress in a penitential robe instead. As soon as Heraclius did so, he was able to carry the True Cross into the church. This feast day, more than anything else, is a celebration of God’s greatest work: His death and resurrection which defeated death and opened Heaven. Christ transformed an instrument of torture and humiliation into a symbol of salvation. The entrance antiphon for this Feast: “We should glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is our salvation, our life and our resurrection: through him we are saved and made free.”
Ideas for celebrating this feast day at home:
- Watch this reflection from Deacon Gus Suarez (here)
- Craft project: make and decorate a cross. Build a “yard cross” out of big pieces of lumber or tree limbs. Make sure that blessed crucifixes are displayed prominently throughout your home.
- Eat foods like red tomatoes, and drink beverages such as fruit punch or red wine, reminding us of the blood Jesus shed. Mozzarella cheese is white and reminds us of our baptismal garments (when we were signed with the cross). Cook with sweet basil, which tradition says grew over the place where the True Cross had been buried. Use wooden skewers and make an appetizer of tomatoes, basil, and fresh mozzarella cheese. The wood of the skewers reminds us of the wood of the cross. Idea Or, just enjoy pasta night with the above ingredients!
- Make a dessert in the form of a cross, or decorated with a cross. Although usually made on Good Friday, hot cross buns would also be perfect for today. Recipe
- Pray the Stations of the Cross. The prayer repeated at each station: We adore You, O Christ, and praise You, Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
- Available on FORMED is a story about St. Helena and the True Cross: watch
Volleyball Fall 2020
Adult volleyball resumes at POP on Mondays beginning 21 September! It’ll be a shortened season ending 9 November.
- If you’re interested in playing, please contact Johanna at 1998best@gmail.com
- COVID-19 precautions will be: All players must wash their hands when they enter the gym. We will have hand sanitizer available for use before the game, during time-outs, between sets and anytime you leave the court. Face coverings are encouraged, but optional.
13 September 2020 Bulletin
Click to read this week’s bulletin: 13 September 2020
Altar Server Training for EF & OF
If you would like to serve at the altar, and have made your First Holy Communion, training to do so is coming! Please complete and return the registration form & COVID-19 waiver. The schedule is:
- To serve at OF Mass: training will be on Sundays for 3 weeks: 13, 20 and 27 September from 4-5.30p
- To serve at EF Mass: training will be on Sundays for 8 weeks: in Croghan Hall for 13, 20 and 27 September at 1p, then in Church for 4 October at 1p, then in Croghan Hall 11, 18, 25 October, then in Church at the EF 12n Mass for 1 November with review in Croghan Hall. All sessions will last 30-45 minutes.
Celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
8 September: Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast day commemorates the birth day of Mary. There are only three birthdays on the liturgical calendar: Mary, Jesus, and John the Baptist. Usually, it is the custom to celebrate the feast day of a saint on the date of their death as that marks their “birth” into everlasting life. Mary, however, entered the world sinless (known as the “Immaculate Conception”). Mary is called the firstborn of the redeemed and her nativity is “the hope of the entire world and the dawn of salvation” (Pope Paul VI, Marialis Cultus). Mary’s birth is not recorded in scripture but is found in the Protevangelium of James, an apocryphal writing from the 2nd century. The liturgical celebration of this feast has a joyous theme of light: the world that had been shadowed in the darkness of sin sees a glimmer of light with the arrival of Mary. Through Mary comes Christ, the Light of the World. Mary has a pivotal role in salvation history and her nativity is cause for joyful celebration. Today and every day, let us call upon the Blessed Mother as “Cause of our joy”, one of the beautiful titles in her litany.
“Thy birth, O Virgin Mother of God, heralded joy to all the world. For from thou hast risen the Sun of justice, Christ our God. Destroying the curse, He gave blessing; and damning death, He bestowed on us life everlasting. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.”
(from The Divine Office – Matins (Morning Prayer))
Ideas for celebrating this feast day at home:
- Have a birthday party for Mary! Birthdays don’t need special explanations for children. Let them decorate the house with leftover party supplies in honor of their heavenly mother. Blue is an especially fitting color for this day (it is symbolic of Mary’s blue mantle).
- Ask children to think of a birthday “gift” they can give to Mary: a prayer; an act of mercy; a small sacrifice; a virtue to work on; a handful of wildflowers to adorn a Marian statue; etc.
- Make a blue and white cupcake rosary (a “rosary” made out of cupcakes, mini cupcakes, or cookies. Idea here. Sing “happy birthday” to Mary before enjoying this special dessert! A simple white cake symbolizing Mary’s purity is also perfect for this feast day.
- Eat blueberries today: blueberry muffins or pancakes, blueberry pie or simply fresh blueberries.
- Consider purchasing a Marian statue for your home. Creating a Marian garden in your yard is another beautiful way to honor Our Lady.
- Learn a Marian hymn. Ideas: Ave Maria, Salve Regina, Immaculate Mary and Hail, Holy Queen.
Pray a rosary – that’s the best way to say “happy birthday” to your heavenly mother!
Fr. Smith’s EF 13th Sunday After Pentecost
Fr. Tomlinson’s 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
6 September 2020 Bulletin
Click to read this weekend’s bulletin: 6 September 2020
Celebrating the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
8 September: Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast day commemorates the birth day of Mary. There are only three birthdays on the liturgical calendar: Mary, Jesus, and John the Baptist. Usually, it is the custom to celebrate the feast day of a saint on the date of their death as that marks their “birth” into everlasting life. Mary, however, entered the world sinless (known as the “Immaculate Conception”). Mary is called the firstborn of the redeemed and her nativity is “the hope of the entire world and the dawn of salvation” (Pope Paul VI, Marialis Cultus). Mary’s birth is not recorded in scripture but is found in the Protevangelium of James, an apocryphal writing from the 2nd century. The liturgical celebration of this feast has a joyous theme of light: the world that had been shadowed in the darkness of sin sees a glimmer of light with the arrival of Mary. Through Mary comes Christ, the Light of the World. Mary has a pivotal role in salvation history and her nativity is cause for joyful celebration. Today and every day, let us call upon the Blessed Mother as “Cause of our joy”, one of the beautiful titles in her litany.
“Thy birth, O Virgin Mother of God, heralded joy to all the world. For from thou hast risen the Sun of justice, Christ our God. Destroying the curse, He gave blessing; and damning death, He bestowed on us life everlasting. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.”
(from The Divine Office – Matins (Morning Prayer))
Ideas for celebrating this feast day at home:
- Have a birthday party for Mary! Birthdays don’t need special explanations for children. Let them decorate the house with leftover party supplies in honor of their heavenly mother. Blue is an especially fitting color for this day (it is symbolic of Mary’s blue mantle).
- Ask children to think of a birthday “gift” they can give to Mary: a prayer; an act of mercy; a small sacrifice; a virtue to work on; a handful of wildflowers to adorn a Marian statue; etc.
- Make a blue and white cupcake rosary (a “rosary” made out of cupcakes, mini cupcakes, or cookies. Idea here. Sing “happy birthday” to Mary before enjoying this special dessert! A simple white cake symbolizing Mary’s purity is also perfect for this feast day.
- Eat blueberries today: blueberry muffins or pancakes, blueberry pie or simply fresh blueberries.
- Consider purchasing a Marian statue for your home. Creating a Marian garden in your yard is another beautiful way to honor Our Lady.
- Learn a Marian hymn. Ideas: Ave Maria, Salve Regina, Immaculate Mary and Hail, Holy Queen.
Pray a rosary – that’s the best way to say “happy birthday” to your heavenly mother!
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