PASTOR'S PAGE
Very Reverend John D. Byrnes, JV, JCL
The November Parish Council Meeting will be held TONIGHT Sunday, November 10th at 6:30 PM in the basilica hall. All parishioners are welcome to attend! All Council members and Committee Chairs are to attend. Committee Chairpersons will offer a brief report on their committee’s work and projects. In this way, we see all that is happening in our parish and work in an orderly way.
Our Confirmation Preparation Program - As you know, our Basilica Parish, St. Aloysius Parish & St. Francis Xavier Parish in Cresson work together to prepare our young people for the Sacrament of Confirmation. By combining resources, we can offer our young people a quality program with diverse educational and spiritual experiences. This involves inviting the teenagers from Cresson join us here in Loretto for some retreats and sessions. Here are some upcoming events!
The FALL Confirmation Session – will be held on Sunday November 17. Our teenagers preparing for Confirmation (Bishop Carroll and Religious Education students) will attend their FALL SESSION at 5:30 PM -6:30 PM Topics- Freshmen “The Creed” Sophomores “Scripture” Juniors “Sacraments”
Eucharistic Adoration / Praise and Worship Night at St. Michael Basilica Sunday November 17, 2019 at 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Part of the Confirmation preparation for our young people is participating in a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration/Praise and Worship. This includes our Bishop Carroll and Penn Cambria students. Following the Fall Confirmation Session (Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, 5:30 PM) we will hold this Holy Hour (6:30 PM St. Michael Basilica). I have invited the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament Charismatic Prayer Group to our parish for a lively, beautiful and prayerful evening. The prayer group will lead the Music Ministry, praise and worship, with a witness talk by a teenager, Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
While this event is an opportunity for our teenagers, All in the parish, especially our faithful Wednesday Adorers are invited to this special night of prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Have you ever participated in Praise and Worship? Now is the time to experience it!
Letter to a Suffering Church Discussion - I thank all who have signed up to discuss Bishop Robert Barron’s excellent book on the abuse crisis within the Church, Letter to a Suffering Church. We will meet on Wednesday evening November 20 at 7 PM in the Basilica Hall immediately following our Weekly Eucharistic Holy for Vocations.
Advent Communal Anointing of the Sick - As Advent approaches, I will be offering the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick to our homebound parishioners. A Communal Anointing of the Sick Service will be offered in church on the First Sunday of Advent (November 30-December 1) for anyone who wishes to receive the Sacrament. For your convenience, I will offer the Sacrament following Sunday Masses. The service will include a brief Liturgy of the Word followed by Anointing of the Sick. You are encouraged to receive the Sacrament of Penance (Confession) prior to anointing (Saturdays at 11:30 AM).
When ? Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick Saturday evening, November 30 at 5 PM (immediately following 4PM Mass) Sunday Morning December 1 at 9 AM and at 11:00 AM (immediately following 8 AM Mass and 10:00 AM Mass).
Who may be anointed? 1) Those whose health is seriously impaired by sickness or old age. 2) Elderly people who have become notably weakened, even though no serious illness is present. 3) Before surgery 4) Those who have been anointed recently if their condition continues. 5) Those who suffer from chronic illnesses or mental illnesses at any age.
Thanksgiving Day Mass - will be celebrated at 9 AM on November 28. There will be no collection taken on this day, but I would ask that everyone bring a non-perishable canned good (fruit, soup, vegetables, etc.) or dry good which will be placed in baskets at the altar during the offertory. All offerings will be taken to the Dorothy Day Center. The Dorothy Day Center is always in need of boxed goods such as cereal, pasta, skillet meals (Hamburger Helper), macaroni & cheese, etc. Condiments are also very useful. Cake mixes, dessert mixes and cookie mixes are good to include with holiday selections.
St. Michael Catholic School Thanksgiving Mass- You are invited to join us for our school children’s Mass Wednesday November 27 at 8:45 AM, as we celebrate Thanksgiving! Expect some “Native Americans” and “Pilgrims” among our primary school children!!
Our Confirmation Preparation Program - As you know, our Basilica Parish, St. Aloysius Parish & St. Francis Xavier Parish in Cresson work together to prepare our young people for the Sacrament of Confirmation. By combining resources, we can offer our young people a quality program with diverse educational and spiritual experiences. This involves inviting the teenagers from Cresson join us here in Loretto for some retreats and sessions. Here are some upcoming events!
The FALL Confirmation Session – will be held on Sunday November 17. Our teenagers preparing for Confirmation (Bishop Carroll and Religious Education students) will attend their FALL SESSION at 5:30 PM -6:30 PM Topics- Freshmen “The Creed” Sophomores “Scripture” Juniors “Sacraments”
Eucharistic Adoration / Praise and Worship Night at St. Michael Basilica Sunday November 17, 2019 at 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Part of the Confirmation preparation for our young people is participating in a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration/Praise and Worship. This includes our Bishop Carroll and Penn Cambria students. Following the Fall Confirmation Session (Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, 5:30 PM) we will hold this Holy Hour (6:30 PM St. Michael Basilica). I have invited the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament Charismatic Prayer Group to our parish for a lively, beautiful and prayerful evening. The prayer group will lead the Music Ministry, praise and worship, with a witness talk by a teenager, Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
While this event is an opportunity for our teenagers, All in the parish, especially our faithful Wednesday Adorers are invited to this special night of prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Have you ever participated in Praise and Worship? Now is the time to experience it!
Letter to a Suffering Church Discussion - I thank all who have signed up to discuss Bishop Robert Barron’s excellent book on the abuse crisis within the Church, Letter to a Suffering Church. We will meet on Wednesday evening November 20 at 7 PM in the Basilica Hall immediately following our Weekly Eucharistic Holy for Vocations.
Advent Communal Anointing of the Sick - As Advent approaches, I will be offering the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick to our homebound parishioners. A Communal Anointing of the Sick Service will be offered in church on the First Sunday of Advent (November 30-December 1) for anyone who wishes to receive the Sacrament. For your convenience, I will offer the Sacrament following Sunday Masses. The service will include a brief Liturgy of the Word followed by Anointing of the Sick. You are encouraged to receive the Sacrament of Penance (Confession) prior to anointing (Saturdays at 11:30 AM).
When ? Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick Saturday evening, November 30 at 5 PM (immediately following 4PM Mass) Sunday Morning December 1 at 9 AM and at 11:00 AM (immediately following 8 AM Mass and 10:00 AM Mass).
Who may be anointed? 1) Those whose health is seriously impaired by sickness or old age. 2) Elderly people who have become notably weakened, even though no serious illness is present. 3) Before surgery 4) Those who have been anointed recently if their condition continues. 5) Those who suffer from chronic illnesses or mental illnesses at any age.
Thanksgiving Day Mass - will be celebrated at 9 AM on November 28. There will be no collection taken on this day, but I would ask that everyone bring a non-perishable canned good (fruit, soup, vegetables, etc.) or dry good which will be placed in baskets at the altar during the offertory. All offerings will be taken to the Dorothy Day Center. The Dorothy Day Center is always in need of boxed goods such as cereal, pasta, skillet meals (Hamburger Helper), macaroni & cheese, etc. Condiments are also very useful. Cake mixes, dessert mixes and cookie mixes are good to include with holiday selections.
St. Michael Catholic School Thanksgiving Mass- You are invited to join us for our school children’s Mass Wednesday November 27 at 8:45 AM, as we celebrate Thanksgiving! Expect some “Native Americans” and “Pilgrims” among our primary school children!!