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January 9, 2022Dear Parishioners,
With the Christmas season coming to an end, we bid farewell to the decorations in the church and we return to ordinary time. I want to thank everyone who helped to make this Christmas so prayerful. The beauty of the decorations, the celebration of the Masses, the music and all the other pieces that go into the season went so well. Now we look forward to the season of Lent and all of the liturgical traditions that it brings.
You may have noticed at Mass a new piece of cloth on top of the chalice. For the Christmas season we covered the chalice with a chalice veil and burse. The burse held the corporal, which is the piece of cloth that goes directly under the chalice when the priest celebrates the Mass. The name explains its purpose: “burse” means bag. It reverently and practically carries the corporal. The chalice veil serves a practical purpose to both protect the chalice, and to indicate the color of the Mass. The colors we use and wear at Mass help direct our minds to the memorial, feast or solemnity of the day. Appropriately for Christmas the veil also symbolizes the Incarnation. The veil represents Christ’s humanity which covers his divinity (not in the sense that his humanity can be thrown off however). With our eyes we see him as human, but seeing his miracles, particularly seeing what happens in the Mass through the use of the chalice we come to understand that he is also divine. Hence the removal of the veil and the celebration of the Mass with the chalice symbolize Christ’s divinity shrining through his humanity. Hence, the chalice veil is just one more reminder of the mystery of the Incarnation.
You may have noticed a change on one side of the church grounds. A.P. Leitao and Sons Landscaping ripped out the old bushes and shrubs along the northern side of the church and replaced it with decorative rock. The reason was not just cosmetic. In times past the pathway would flood after rain or freeze with ice in the winter. With this change the hope is that the rocks will allow the water to drain off the path. A big thank you to the company for their quick work.
If you have not yet had a chance to see them new calendars are at the entrances of the Church. These are the special edition 150th Anniversary of the Diocese versions. They showcase the good work and history of the diocese as we look back over those many years. They are free to take, and I encourage you to take them home for yourself or for someone you know who needs one.
Finally, we have an additional sanctuary candle next to the tabernacle. The sanctuary candle tells us that God is present in the tabernacle. Now we have an additional candle that individuals or families can offer in memory of someone. Simply call the office and we can arrange for the remembrance and put it in the bulletin.
God bless,
Fr. Barrow
