Pastor’s Message: January 29, 2021

Dear Parishioners,
Prayer is the foundation of all that we do in defense of human life. Every January, thousands of pilgrims travel to Washington to pray together at the National Prayer Vigil for Life, for an end to abortion. “There is power in prayer.” Yes, there is power in praying in the name of Jesus. When we tell someone we will pray for them, we are offering to open the conversation with God. Comfort can be found and burdens lessened when we pray and give our concerns to God. God invites us into a relationship with Him. Go to God first in prayer.
National Prayer Vigil for Life will be virtual this year.
“Now, more than ever, our nation is in need of prayer for the protection of the unborn and the dignity of all human life,” Archbishop Naumann said in a statement. I invite all Catholics to spend time with our Lord and join in this nationwide vigil for life.”
God Bless,
Fr. Cyrus

Pastor’s Message: January 22, 2021

Dear Parishioners,
  • Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. Colossians 3:15. 15
To pray powerfully for peace, we need to rely on God’s peace and power. So I’ll continue to pray for peace and hope you will too.
As God guides us, may we pray regularly and often, for those we know and for those we don’t know, for a peace that embraces our country and our whole being, both physical and spiritual.
God Bless,
Fr. Cyrus

Pastor’s Message: January 15, 2021

Dear Parishioners,
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is observed January 18–25.
This year’s theme is “Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit” (see John 15:5–9).
Jesus prayed that all of his followers may be one as he is one with the Father: “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me” (John 17:20–23). May we join our prayer and efforts with his—this week and all through the year.
God Bless,
Fr. Cyrus

Pastor’s Message: January 8, 2021

Dear Parishioners,
Blessings and Happy New Year
This weekend the Church celebrates the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. This brings to an end the season of Christmas.
The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord celebrates the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. We know that — since Jesus was born without sin — he did not really need to be baptized. And yet, Jesus welcomes his own baptism as an example for the rest of us and as a sign of his true identity. He is God’s son, the living presence of God on earth. When we renew our baptismal promises, we proclaim our belief in the waters of baptism and our new and ongoing life in Christ.
In Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan, we see Him anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Christ, we hear the Father proclaim His fundamental identity as the beloved Son, and we perceive Jesus’ mission as one of humility, a self-emptying love and sacrificial identification with everything in us that was lost, broken and dead.
Parents take some time this month to talk to your kids about their own baptism (even if you’ve told the story before!). Talk about who was there, how their godparents were chosen and the celebration after the ritual. What a great time to share that Jesus is with us always, even during these days of the pandemic.
Please take a moment to pray for peace in our country.
God Bless,
Fr. Cyrus

Pastor’s Message: January 3, 2021

Dear Parishioners,
Blessings Happy Epiphany and Happy New Year
Take a look below of the Tradition of Epiphany door blessing with chalk which is a symbol of hope in 2021
I would like to extend my thanks to all who helped make our Christmas celebrations so beautiful. Thank you to Bert Pozio for decorating our beautiful outdoor Christmas Tree. Thank you to Jerry Romano who built the table for the crèche, Jim DeVito and his crew for putting it up, Joe Carpenteri and Brian McHugh for their help setting up. They will also help break down all the decorations at the end of the Christmas Season which concludes with the Baptism of the Lord.
Thank you to Joe and Mary Remlin for their continued dedication in helping set up the church and gym for Christmas Masses. Thank you to Dolly Perce, Josie Nazzaro, Madeline Fitzgerald, Brenda Todd, Cathy Romano, Nancy Engel, Marilyn Moran, Carol Gabriel for decorating the church and McGrath Hall. Thank you to our Knights of Columbus for monitoring the doors for all the Christmas Masses, Thank you to our musicians Frank Matto and Aidan Andrews, for planning and giving us such beautiful music Thank you to Jose Feliciano and family for providing his traditional Feliz Navidad at the end of the 6:00pm Christmas Mass. Thank you to Dennis and Matt our custodians for all their behind the scenes help. Thank you to all who financially contributed through the Christmas flower and Christmas gift collections. Your time, talent and treasure is a blessed gift to the parish.
The ancient Christian tradition of marking doorways with chalk on the feast of the Epiphany will carry new meaning for many Catholics in 2021.Following a year that saw families shaken by the coronavirus pandemic, the traditional home blessing will serve as a special symbol of hope and a visible reminder of faith.

During he Christmas Season Holy Mother Church celebrates the great Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord.

The door lentil is “chalked”— marked in chalk with a sign of the Epiphany: the year along with the letters C, M, and B. and the year.  The acronym CMB stands for both a Latin prayer, Christus Mansionem Benedicat (May Christ Bless this House) as well as the traditional names of the Magi—Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar.
This outward sign of our celebration of Epiphany is a visible sign to all who enter our homes
God Bless,
Fr. Cyrus