Friday, November 18, 2022
Memorial of St. Rose Philipine Duchesne

Almighty ever-living God, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of the universe, grant, we pray, that the whole creation set free from slavery may render your majesty service and ceaselessly proclaim your praise. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

Collect for the Mass on the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe

Brothers and Sisters,

This Sunday marks the end and the beginning. It is the end of the liturgical year with the celebration of the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe. Established in 1925, the proclamation of Jesus Christ as King was a response to the secular tyrannies of Communism and Fascism. The ultimate authority of this world is not nation-states, political parties, economic systems, or cultural ideologies. It is Christ the King, our Lord, and Savior. It is through Him that we are invited into an eternal relationship with God the Father in the Holy Spirit. Our hope of salvation is in Christ and His Cross.

This Sunday is also the end of the journey to Jerusalem and the Lessons of Discipleship in the Gospel of Luke. It concludes with the crowning of Jesus as King (Luke 23:35-42). This crowning does not take in the pomp and circumstance of a royal ceremony. It is on the Cross that Jesus is enthroned. It is from the Cross that the kingship of Jesus begins.

Divine Mercy flows from Jesus as King. Even as the rulers of this world sneer at Jesus on the Cross, He draws all peoples to it. This includes the repentant thief who says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”. Jesus replies to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise”.

It includes you and me. Christ our King calls us to repentance and conversion, the reorienting of our lives upon Him, upon His Cross, and His Resurrection. The powers of this world are temporary. Christ the King rules for all eternity. He alone is worthy of our loyalty and our hope. His glorious reign has begun.

Our Parish

Congratulations to:

Tyler Martin and Olivia Autry, who were married on Sunday, November 13

The Waters Family, who will present a child for baptism on Sunday, November 20

Andres Gonzalez and Elizabeth Domeier, who will be married on Friday, November 25

Condolences to:

The family of Rogene Shipman. She died peacefully on Wednesday after a long illness. There will be a Rosary for her on Thursday, December 1, at Hayhurst Funeral Home starting at 6:00 PM. Her Funeral Mass will be at our church on Friday, December 2, beginning at 10:00 AM.

The Thanksgiving Food Baskets for Broken Neighbors need to be returned to the church commons by this weekend. Thank you to all who have participated in this Work of Mercy.

The “Thank You” Thanksgiving Dinner for parishioners age 60+ is after the Vigil Mass this Saturday. The youth of the parish will be serving the meal in gratitude for the support of their mission trips and other activities.

The week of Thanksgiving will mean a few changes to our parish schedule. They include:

Adoration in the St. Scholastica Chapel will be temporally suspended. This starts at Midnight, November 23. Adoration will resume on Monday, November 28 at 6:00 AM.

There are no Religious Education Classes on Wednesday, November 23.

Mass on Thanksgiving Day will be at 9:00 AM. Mass on Friday, November 25 will be at 8:30 AM only. There is no 6:30 AM Mass that day.

The parish office will be closed on November 24 and 25.

Advent Prayer Booklets will be available in the commons this weekend. Sign up for Advent by Candlelight on Sunday, November 27, also in the church commons.

For those who will be traveling for Thanksgiving Day, a safe journey to all. And to all a Happy Thanksgiving!

God bless and keep you safe.

Fr. Bryan