Hi All,

Updates:

1. I celebrated Mass today for all of you, the parishioners, and for Nicholas James on his first birthday (by Elizabeth Mahaffy).

2. Thursday is the Solemnity of the Ascension. It is one of the most solemn days in the Church's year; a day of great grace, joy, and holiness. Join the Church in keeping the day holy!

3. To mark the solemnity, I'll have the regularly scheduled 8 am Mass at OLA, as well as a 6 pm evening Mass at St. Anthony's ... which I've added to the sign up sheet and you can access here.


Reflection

Instead of the regular reflection, I've made the Through Saintly Eyes episode on St. Thomas Aquinas available here: https://vimeo.com/420537803 

Also, I wanted to note something about Ascension Thursday, Pentecost, and novenas. The word novena is related to the word for nine, and comes from the period of 9 days between Ascension Thursday and Pentecost. These nine days are the prototype of all novenas, commemorating the nine days between the Ascension of Our Lord and the descent of the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost. It was during this first novena that Our Lady and the twelve Apostles prayed in the upper room for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

I was thinking that as a parish we could join in a novena beseeching the Holy Spirit for a fresh outpouring on this Pentecost. Details to follow.

God bless,
Fr. Rensch