Keeping Us Connected Newsletter

May 20, 2022

For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

- I Cor 3:17

Dear Saint Mary Friends,

It’s been a whirlwind of beauty these last two months: Confirmations, Holy Week, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter, First Communions and more. And happily (Praise the Lord!), we’ve able to celebrate them in our renovated church building. Now that we are almost 7 months back in church, I thought it would be a good time to remind ourselves of and celebrate the Catholic sense of a church building and the living church, her people, The Mystical Body of Christ. And since we’re in the month of Mary, note the video on Mary, Mother of the Church.

Mary, Mother of the Church

From the Catechism:

1179 The worship "in Spirit and in truth"…is not tied exclusively to any one place…. What matters…is that, when the faithful assemble in the same place, they are the "living stones," to be "built into a spiritual house”…. 1180 When the exercise of religious liberty is not thwarted, Christians construct buildings for divine worship. ….1181 A church [is]"a house of prayer in which the Eucharist is celebrated and reserved, where the faithful assemble, and [worship] the presence of the Son of God our Savior, offered for us on the sacrificial altar for the help and consolation of the faithful….In this "house of God" the truth and harmony of the signs that make it up should show Christ present and active in this place.….1185 ….A church must also be a space that invites us to the recollection and silent prayer that extend and internalize the great prayer of the Eucharist. 1186 Finally…the visible church is a symbol of the Father's house toward which the People of God is journeying and where the Father "will wipe every tear from their eyes."

From Sacred Tradition:

My fellow Christians, today is the birthday of this church, an occasion for celebration and rejoicing. We, however, ought to be the true and living temple of God. …And if we think more carefully about the meaning of our salvation, we shall realize that we are indeed living and true temples of God….Therefore, the apostle Paul says: The temple of God is holy, and you are that temple. My fellow Christians, do we wish to celebrate joyfully the birth of this temple? ...I shall speak clearly, so that all can understand. Whenever we come to church, we must prepare our hearts to be as beautiful as we expect this church to be. Do you wish to find this basilica immaculately clean? Then do not soil your soul with the filth of sins. Do you wish this basilica to be full of light? God too wishes that your soul be not in darkness, but that the light of good works shine in us, so that he who dwells in the heavens will be glorified. Just as you enter this church building, so God wishes to enter into your soul, for he promised: I shall live in them, I shall walk through their hearts.

- St. Caesarius of Arles, Anniversary of the dedication of the church of St. John Lateran.

Quote of the Week:

Dear friends…God’s desire [is] to build a spiritual temple in the world, a community that worships him in spirit and truth (cf. John 4:23-24). But this also reminds us of the importance of the material buildings in which the community gathers to celebrate the praises of God. Every community therefore has the duty to take special care of its own sacred buildings, which are a precious religious and historical patrimony. For this we call upon the intercession of Mary Most Holy, that she help us to become, like her, the ‘house of God,’ living temple of his love.”

– Benedict XVI, Sunday Angelus, Nov. 9, 2008

Blessings,

Msgr. Kevin T. Royal

Pastor

Also in this newsletter...

Reflection - Deacon Rick Lawlor

Video – Mary, Mother of the Church

Speaker Rev. Don Calloway

Tuesday, May 24th at 7 pm

St. Gregory Parish, Danbury

“The importance of the Virgin Mary in our world today.”

Renowned author and speaker Rev. Don Calloway is coming to speak at St. Gregory the Great Parish. The title of his talk is, “The importance of the Virgin Mary in our world today.” Rev. Calloway is the author of very popular books such as his conversion story, “No Turning Back,” “Consecration to St. Joseph,” and “Champions of the Rosary.” Fr. Calloway’s conversion story was made into a documentary film called “Power in my Hands,” he was interviewed on ABC TV, has been a guest on many Catholic podcasts, and his talks have been viewed by many on YouTube. His books will be available for purchase after his talk. Tickets, $10, can be purchased at St. Gregory parish office, 85 Great Plain Road, Danbury, or call (203)797-0222 or email drabito@stgregdanbury.org.

NEXT SATURDAY

Join us May 28 at 8:45 AM, after the 8 AM Mass, in the Parish Office parking lot for our Rosary Walk.

Father's Day cards are available in the Parish Office for $10.

You may also enter the names of the special fathers in your life to our Father's Day Mass Intention list to be prayed for at all Father's Day Masses.

Enter Names Here

More Info

YOUTH & FAMILY

Religious Ed Registration 2022-2023 is now open

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

July 11 - 15

9 AM - 12 Noon Daily

REGULAR MASS SCHEDULE

Thursday, May 26, Holy Day of Obligation

Masses

7:00 AM

9:00 AM

Noon

7:00 PM

Vigil Mass Wednesday, May 25, 5:30 PM

On the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, we celebrate Christ's bodily ascension into heaven, which occurred in the presence of his apostles. We hear in St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians that Christ took his seat at the right hand of his Father, "far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion."

The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord occurs 40 days after Christ's resurrection. It is the important, final piece of the paschal mystery, which began with Christ's Passion and death. Because Christ ascended, we, as members of the body of Christ, also look forward to ascending into heaven after our bodily resurrection.

On the solemnity, we are also reminded of our evangelizing mission. Before Christ ascends, he gives his disciples final instructions, telling them to await the arrival of the Holy Spirit and then "go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). We will celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles on Pentecost Sunday, June 5.