Dear Parishioners, On Saturday, November 4, all are invited to join with our Bishops and parishes from around the Archdiocese for our 2023 Assembly Eucharistic Congress to be held at St. Mary’s University. During this past year in preparation for this Synod there have been listening sessions in parishes to bring together the hopes and needs of our parishioners. These have been incorporated as we look to the future. As we approach the Congress each parish is asked to have a focus towards the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. For the parishes of our Fredericksburg Deanery, each of our parishes will have extended hours of Confessions during the week of October 16 – 21. At our parish each of those days we will have two hours of Confessions available so each may be able to go to Confession. Because of the Saturday Eucharistic Congress, we will not have a First Saturday Mass, but will have a special First Friday Mass on November 3 at 6:00 pm with Adoration, Benediction and Confessions. The focus of this Mass will be on the Eucharist and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
At the very heart of our worship is the Mass. In preparation for the Eucharistic Congress in the next four Sundays, October 8, 15, 22 & 29, I will incorporate into the Mass a teaching explanation of the Mass along with a short homily. The topics will focus on (1) our gathering for the Mass, Penitential Rite, Gloria, and Collect Prayer; (2) Liturgy of the Word; (3) Liturgy of the Eucharist; and (4) Communion Rite, Blessing, and Sending forth. I look forward to sharing with you as we together reflect on the Mass. To register for the Eucharistic Congress please go to the Archdiocesan website: archsa.org. It is free to attend with parking available. Check-in begins at 7:30am. It will begin at 8:20 am and end with Mass at 11:30 am. Keynote speakers include Cardinal Joseph Tobin (English) and Father Fernando Torre (Spanish). I look forward to being with you for this important gathering of our Archdiocese! Father Phil