Thank you to all who have participated in the photo sessions for our new picture directory and in the first round of the Synod gatherings. We are still gathering “submitted photos” for any who prefer to participate in the picture directory that way. Please see me after Masses or contact our parish office if you would like to submit your household photo. We will have two more photo sessions on Monday and Tuesday of this week in the Social Hall at Sts. Peter & Paul in Lore City.
The first round of Synod gatherings was held this past Tuesday through Thursday. In addition to benefitting from the input of those who participated, I know we will also learn to conduct the next two rounds of gatherings even more smoothly. At this point we are planning for the next round to be on January 4th and 5th. These gatherings will be open both to parishioners who would like to offer input on their experience of the Church and to people who have either left the Church or who have been reluctant to join the Church. We will likely conduct a third round of hour-long gatherings in February, most likely on weekends rather than on weekdays and evenings.
I’m looking forward to this year’s Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning this week. It sounds like the participation in terms of both runners/walkers and sponsors is exceptionally strong, all things considered.
As in years past, we will have two Masses scheduled for Thanksgiving, one at 8:00 a.m. at Sts. Peter & Paul in Lore City and another Mass at 9:00 a.m. at St. Benedict in Cambridge. Though it is not a holy day of obligation, a fair number of people find that theme of thanksgiving to be at the heart of their spirituality and relationship with the Lord and so they appreciate the connection between the Mass and the Eucharist, which means “thanksgiving” in the Greek language, and our annual national holiday. And there is the additional benefit of having the Mass early enough for the Turkey Trot, out along the Great Guernsey Trail relatively close to Sts. Peter & Paul (though the event begins and ends at the Corduroy Road end of the Trail). I’m looking forward to trotting again this year!
Please note that instead of having an Advent Reconciliation Service this year, we are planning to have expanded times for confession, including three Tuesday evenings, December 7th, 14th and 21st from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at St. Benedict Church. Please note that when we have the Holy Hour on the 4th Wednesday at Sts. Peter & Paul, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., I usually plan to be available for confessions at that time as well. We are planning another Holy Hour at Sts. Peter & Paul for this upcoming Wednesday, November 24th.
May Our Lord Jesus Christ help us to experience the transforming power of His mercy as He helps us to be always ready for the gift of eternal life in Heaven!