FEAST Of MARY, MOTHER Of GOD And WORLD DAY Of PEACE

The last hours of one year and the first hours of the New Year are Universally symbolized by people getting together at parties. At the very same time, the Church proclaims to the world a serious and deep message, which, in many cases, because of the parties, is easily overlooked. But nonetheless, the message is to be proclaimed.

The first aspect of the Church’s message is Mary, Mother of God. Mary gave flesh & blood to the Son of God. She enabled His presence to walk among us here on this earth. He experienced the good and the bad of humanity — Just as we do. He hungered and cried. He felt pain and joy.

The second aspect of the church’s message is the World Day of Peace. We all say we want “peace”. Peace is not the absence of conflict. Peace is something that exists in and among men and women and not in some ideal place. As Pope Benedict XVI says in the World Day of Peace Proclamation: “The truth of peace calls upon everyone to cultivate productive and sincere relationships; it encourages them to seek our and to follow the paths of forgiveness and reconciliation, to be transparent in their dealing with others, and to be faithful to their word.”

The Holy Father closes his proclamation with these words: “ With confidence and filial abandonment, let us lift up our eyes to Mary, Mother of the Prince of Peace. At the beginning of this New Year, let us ask her to help all God’s People, wherever they may be, to work for peace and to be guided by the light of the truth that sets man free (cf. John 8:32). Through Mary’s intercession, may all mankind grow in esteem for this fundamental good and strive to make it ever more present in our world, and, in this way, to offer a safer and more serene future to generations yet to come”

Our Mass schedule for the Feast of Mary, Mother of God and World Day of Peace is:

Saturday, Dec. 31st	5:30 pm
Sunday, Jan. 1	10:00 am 5:00 pm