Dear Parishioners:
The Labor Day holiday is Monday. It was established as a civil holiday to recognize workers' labor, sacrifices, and contributions. In our Catholic tradition, work is more than a way to make a living. It is not a burden but a blessing.
Work is an expression of our dignity and a contribution to the common good. In spiritual terms, work is a way to participate in God's continuing work of creation. This Labor Day, let us prayerfully reflect on the dignity of work and pray, especially for the unemployed.
Pope Francis teaches: "Work is fundamental to the dignity of a person. Work, to use a metaphor, 'anoints' us with dignity, fills us with dignity, makes us similar to God, who has worked and still works, who always acts. Work gives one the ability to maintain oneself, one's family, to contribute to the growth of one's own nation."
As we celebrate the Labor Day Holiday, we mark the unofficial end of summer. This Tuesday, the students and faculty at OLM School should return for all-day, in-person classes. We are so happy our students are back in school, albeit in a very new and different way. Our student's and faculty's safety is paramount, and our reopening plan includes many new health policies and safety procedures. We've also made many upgrades to the building to ensure the health and safety of our faculty, staff, and student body.
On Tuesday, we'll again hear our students' laughter on the playground; their young voices lifted in prayer to God and the old familiar ring of the school bell! It is a welcomed and joyful sound! Since the lockdown in March and our students' absence, we've been living with the isolation and silence of the pandemic. Let us give thanks to God for the blessing of our outstanding parish school. May His divine assistance keep all students and teachers safe, healthy, and happy!
Our Opening OLM School Mass is this Friday at 9:00 AM. It is to be live-streamed for our OLM School students, faculty, and families. Every parishioner is most welcome to join us at Mass online and pray in spiritual communion with us. We thank Bishop Evans, who is celebrating this Votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Following the Mass, we are consecrating OLM School to the Blessed Virgin Mary for its protection during this pandemic. As we begin school again, we call upon Our Lady to keep our students and faculty safe, healthy, happy, and holy!
How fitting that OLM School should begin classes on the Feast of the Birth of the Blessed Mother, Tuesday, September 8th. And then on Friday, again turn to Mother Mary as we consecrate our school to her maternal care and spiritual guidance. Our Lady of Mercy, pray for us!!
Consecration means "to make holy" and is made ultimately to God with the understanding that it is a serious commitment. We must respond faithfully to God's grace at work in our lives. We are consecrating our school administration, faculty, staff, students, and families to Jesus through Mary.
Saint Pope John Paul the Great explained: "Consecrating ourselves to Mary means accepting her help to offer ourselves and the whole of humanity to Him who is holy, infinitely holy; it means accepting her help—by having recourse to her motherly heart, which beneath the cross was opened to love for every human being, for the whole world—in order to offer the world, the individual human being, humanity as a whole, and all the nations to Him who is infinitely holy"
We joyfully congratulate the nine RCIA candidates welcomed and fully initiated into the Church last Sunday at the 10:30 AM Mass. It was a joyful and solemn celebration of the Sacraments of Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation. It is truly a hopeful sign of faith and joy amidst the crisis of the pandemic. I thank Fr. Barrow for all his dedication and work in preparing these candidates for this joyful day.
In your name, I welcome these new and fully initiated Catholic brothers and sisters into the Church. We offer them the promise and pledge of our prayers. May they continue to grow in faith, hope, and love of Christ and His Church.
Stay safe. Be Well. Do Good! God Bless. Happy Labor Day! God Bless America!