Friends, today we celebrate the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. In today’s gospel, Jesus reminds us that “wherever two or three are gathered together in my name, there I shall be.” Let us take a moment to reflect and to meditate upon these words. Have a blessed Sunday!
It has always been the pious practice of the church to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday. However, in 1925 Our Lady once again appeared to Lucia dos Santos of Fatima at her convent in Pontevedra, Spain. There, Our Lady requested the institution of the Devotion of the Five First Saturdays in reparation to her Immaculate Heart. Our Lady made a great promise to assist those at the hour of death, all the graces necessary for salvation if on the first five consecutive Saturdays they: 1.) Go to sacramental confession. 2.) Receive Holy Communion. 3.) Say five decades of the Holy Rosary. 4.) Meditate for at least five minutes on the twenty mysteries of the Holy Rosary. Stay close to Our Lady.
The Santo Cristo Chapel Fundraiser is off to a great start. We have estimated the cost to be around $10,000 to fully repair the chapel. To date we have received around half our goal of $5,000 dollars in generous donations from faithful pilgrims to the shrine. Thank you in advance for your continued support and generosity.
Today is the First Friday of the month. The church sets apart this day dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, offering reparations for our sins. In the 17th century, Our Lord appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and in those apparitions he revealed several promises to those individuals who practices the First Friday Devotions. Let us take a few moments today and if possible attend daily mass and make an act of reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
