Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ

My Dear Parishioners,

As we gather to commemorate the Lord’s Day we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, which is the last Sunday of the 2015 liturgical year. In the Gospel we are taken back to the events of Good Friday and the dialogue between Our Lord and Pontius Pilate. When asked if He is a king, Jesus responds, “My kingdom does not belong to this world.” Yes, the Lord Jesus is the king of the universe who came to invite all into His kingdom so that they might have eternal life. The portal by which one enters this kingdom is the holy sacrament of baptism. This is the mystery by which we become members of the kingdom on earth as well as future heirs/heiresses of the eternal kingdom in heaven. Our citizenship unites us to Christ and to one another in a bond of love which has power over death as a result of Jesus’ Holy resurrection. Christ’s love for us was manifested when Pilate sentenced Him to execution on the cross. His suffering and death have given rise to new life with Him. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans wrote, “Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.” (6:3-4).

Since the first centuries of the Church the celebration of the sacrament of baptism began in the rear of the church (the vestibule). The placement of the baptismal font in the back of the church is a sign that one journeys from the font to the altar to be fed by the Eucharist. The baptismal space located near the main entrance of the church is about to receive a new ambry. The ambry is the special repository which holds the holy oils (oil of the sick, oil of catechumens and Sacred Chrism). The ambry is a gift given in memory of Agnes & Alexander Cuneo. The ambry will be installed on the side wall of the church just below the Stations of the Cross. I hope the installation will take place within the next week. We are most grateful for this donation and pray for the eternal repose of Agnes & Alexander Cuneo. .

As Thanksgiving draws near you are invited to a community thanksgiving service this evening at the First Presbyterian Church located on Church Street beginning at 7 o’clock. Please join us for the celebration of the Holy Mass on Thursday, Thanksgiving morning at 8:30. Bread will be blessed and distributed to the faithful as an addition to your thanksgiving table.

There is so much to thank God for! I thank Him for giving you to me!

God bless you,
Father Zig