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125th Jubilee Celebration Sunday, October 23, 1:15PM
Dear St. Mary Friends,
One item, and one item only for today: Next Sunday’s Rosary at Ballard Park to celebrate the 125th Jubilee of our beautiful church building, October 23rd after the noon Mass (best guess about 1:15 PM).
Give Thanks to The Lord & Our Patroness
I've said it many times and in many ways. This is an important celebration for us all. For we must give thanks to the Lord and to his mother, our patroness, for our faith, for our Parish, for blessings beyond number, and entrusting to them our future. The degree of our gratitude is a barometer of our faith.
Gather Publicly
We must gather publicly to help form our children in faith because they live in a world that will form them in other ways. We must gather publicly to say we belong to the Lord first and above all things. We must gather publicly to support one another in prayer.
Picture this. Many St. Mary' men, women, and children publicly gathering together to praise Jesus and honor Mary. Standing together not just unseen in our building, but visible in our town witnessing that we are the Lord’s.
Resist Excuses
So, there are many good reasons to come and pray on October 23. But to be honest, the mind can come up with many other reasons not to be there. Those reasons are not from the Lord.
- I'd like to come, but that's the same time as the football game. Or I'd like to, but my family won't come. Now, Jesus doesn't directly address this in the Gospels, but I think he might say (especially to men, husbands, and fathers) “Lead your family as my father, St. Joseph did. Stand strong against the winds of the times, stand strong against lukewarm faith and be strong as my brothers for them."
- I don't like to pray in public. It may cause division or make someone uncomfortable. But Jesus says in the gospels and to us: “You will be my witnesses.”
- It's my only day off and I'm tired. But Jesus says: “Come to me all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”
- I don’t know how to pray the rosary. We will have blessed rosaries to give you and will lead everyone though the prayer.
Public Prayer is Powerful
Along with thanking and praising the Lord and honoring his mother, there’s something else to consider. St. Louis de Montfort wrote: “When people say the Rosary together it is far more formidable to the devil than one said privately, because in this public prayer it is an army that is attacking him. He can often overcome the prayer of an individual, but if this prayer is joined to that of other Christians, the devil has much more trouble in getting the best of it.”
Bring Chairs, Blankets, Food...
Bring a blanket, bring chairs, bring food if you wish, above all bring yourselves, kids, and grandkids. Bring your neighbors, bring those in great need, and bring those in search of something only the Lord can give.
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