Tag: Candlemas

Around the Parish – February 2, 2025

Written by Very Rev. Fr. Andrew M. Boyd, V.F. on February 1, 2025. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

This Sunday, February 2, 2025, we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas. This feast commemorates the moment when Mary and Joseph presented Jesus in the temple, fulfilling the law of Moses. According to Jewish custom, every firstborn male was to be consecrated to the Lord, and the offering of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons was made in accordance with the law.

Simeon, inspired by the Holy Spirit, recognized Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah and proclaimed Him as the “light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory for your people Israel.” Likewise, the prophetess Anna, who had devoted her life to prayer and fasting in the temple, spoke of the child to all who awaited the redemption of Jerusalem. This profound moment reminds us that Christ is the fulfillment of God’s promises and the true light that dispels the darkness of sin and death.

In recognition of Christ as the light of the nations, we bless candles and hold them during the first part of Mass, symbolizing Christ as the true light who has come into the world. The lighted candles also serve as a reminder of our call to carry the light of Christ into our daily lives, shining His love to all those we encounter.

Candlemas Candles

Blessed candles are available for purchase by the Sacred Heart statue for $5 per box of two candles. These candles serve as a beautiful reminder of Christ’s presence in our lives and homes.

Returning Old Palms

A friendly reminder that old palms can be returned to the baskets placed at the entrances of the church. The deadline for returning your palms is next Sunday, February 9. These palms will be burned and used for the ashes distributed on Ash Wednesday.

Eucharistic Adoration Sign-Ups

We invite you to sign up for Eucharistic Adoration, which will take place for 24 hours. We need at least two people per hour to ensure that our Lord is never left alone in the Blessed Sacrament. Sign-up sheets are available in the main vestibule of the church. Thank you to those who have already committed to spending time with our Lord in Adoration.

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

Lessons in life will repeat until they are learned. You are the artist of your own life: make it beautiful. Prepare your child for the road ahead, not the road ahead for your child. Stress comes from trying to do it all on your own; peace comes from putting it all in God’s hands.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

The Power and Tradition of Mass Intentions

The Mass is considered the greatest prayer of intercession in the Church. This is because it is the perfect offering of Christ to the Father, making present the Paschal Mystery of His death and resurrection. Traditionally, a Priest may be requested to offer a Mass for a specific intention, even if the requester cannot be physically present.

Offering Masses for the Deceased:

Having a Mass offered for a deceased person is an ancient and commendable practice. A Mass is offered to pray for the departed, that they may find peace in heaven. Since each Mass holds infinite value, requesting one or several Masses is of tremendous benefit to the person prayed for, as well as their family, who can take comfort in knowing that their intention is united with the prayers of the Church.

The Mass: Center of Christian Life:

Every Mass is a precious gift from God. It is the center of the Church’s life, known as “the source and summit of the Christian life,” because in the celebration of the Mass, we are brought back to Jesus’ Last Supper, the first Mass. We consciously recall the love of God poured out for us through the life, death, and resurrection of His only Son, Jesus Christ. At each Mass, all the intentions of God’s people, both living and deceased, are included. As Pope Paul VI noted in his motu proprio “Firma in Traditione,” the faithful, moved by an ecclesial and religious sense, join their own sacrifices to the Eucharistic sacrifice, participating more intensely and supporting the Church’s needs, especially its ministers.

Requesting a Mass Intention:

Anyone may request a Mass Intention for a living person, a deceased person, members of a family, or a special intention appropriate to the celebration of the Eucharist, such as World Peace, Vocations, or Respect for Life. The Church allows only one intention per Mass.

Offering a Mass Stipend:

The normal stipend offering for a Mass is $10. However, a Mass Offering can be more or less than the suggested amount, depending on the financial position of the person requesting the Mass. Envelopes for Mass intention requests are available at the entrances of the church. These envelopes can be placed in the collection basket or returned to the parish office. The requester may also ask for a card to be sent to notify someone that a Mass Intention has been requested (one card per intention). Please note that the name of the person(s) requesting the Mass is not announced.

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Around the Parish – January 26

Written by Very Rev. Fr. Andrew M. Boyd, V.F. on January 25, 2025. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

Proclaim a Year of Jubilee

In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus boldly proclaim that He is the fulfillment of God’s promises, declaring: “to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” This passage is rooted in the ancient tradition of the Jubilee Year, a time of renewal, restoration, and freedom outlined in the Old Testament. A Jubilee Year was a time when debts were forgiven, slaves were freed, and land was restored to its rightful owners. In the Church, the Jubilee Year is an opportunity to seek deeper conversion, reconciliation, and renewal of our faith. How fitting it is that we hear this message during our Jubilee Year of Hope! As we continue this year of grace, let us reflect on how we can experience the freedom and restoration that Christ offers us.

Eucharistic Adoration – 24 Hours for the Lord

More information is available in this weekend’s bulletin about Adoration, the Holy Eucharist, and our upcoming celebration of 24 Hours for the Lord. Sign-ups for Adoration are available both in the main vestibule of the church and online at ihmercer.org/24-hours. We encourage everyone to take part in this beautiful opportunity to spend time with Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

Return Your Old Palms

As we prepare for Lent, please remember to bring your old palms back to church so they can be burned for Ash Wednesday. The deadline to return them is Sunday, February 9. A collection basket will be available in the vestibule for your convenience.

The Presentation of the Lord – Candlemas

Next Sunday, our church will celebrate The Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas. At the beginning of each Mass, we will bless the candles that will be used in our church throughout the coming year. Everyone will have the opportunity to hold a candle at the beginning of Mass, with candles available at the doors of the church. It is a long-standing custom to bring special candles from home for this blessing, and we encourage you to do so. Additionally, special Candlemas Candles are available for purchase by the Sacred Heart statue, with a suggested donation of $5 per box of 2 candles.

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

As difficult as things may be, remember that what you’re going through right now won’t last forever; trust that better days are ahead; storms don’t last forever.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

The Real Presence Bulletin Insert Page 1

The Real Presence Bulletin Insert Page 2

The Power and Tradition of Mass Intentions

Offering Masses for the Deceased:

The Mass: Center of Christian Life:

Requesting a Mass Intention:

Offering a Mass Stipend:

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Around the Parish – Sunday, January 29, 2023

Written by on January 28, 2023. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

February Second has a few meanings in our world: First, most people recognize it as Rodent Celebration Day: Groundhog Day! For two years, I lived in Punxsutawney, PA where Groundhog Day is truly an experience to be had. I never went to Gobbler’s Knob for the celebration as it happens in the dark cold night of winter. There’s very little that would get me out of bed at that hour in the usually snowy days of early February.

The second and third meanings are a bit more spiritual and have more important meanings for our lives. The Second of February is the celebration of the Presentation of the Lord, honoring Jesus Christ’s presentation in the Temple when he was a young child.

Jesus’ presentation in the Temple reflects how he fulfills the Old Covenant. According to Old Testament law, a sacrifice had to be offered in the Temple when a child was consecrated to the Lord. Mary and Joseph honor this tradition.

The third celebration for February Second is Candlemas, or also known as little Christmas. Upon the presentation of the Lord in the temple, the image of light entering the temple is seen as Christ bringing light of God’s salvation to the world. This celebration of Candlemas is the day that candles are blessed for use in the home as well as in church.

On February Third, the church celebrates Saint Blaise, Bishop and Martyr. We know more about the devotion to Saint Blaise by Christians around the world than we know about the saint himself. His feast is observed as a holy day in some Eastern Churches. In 1222, the Council of Oxford prohibited servile labor in England on Blaise’s feast day. The Germans and Slavs hold him in special honor, and for decades many United States Catholics have sought the annual Saint Blaise blessing for their throats.

We know that Bishop Blaise was martyred in his episcopal city of Sebastea, Armenia, in 316. The legendary Acts of St. Blaise were written 400 years later. According to them Blaise was a good bishop, working hard to encourage the spiritual and physical health of his people. Although the Edict of Toleration (311), granting freedom of worship in the Roman Empire, was already five years old, persecution still raged in Armenia. Blaise was apparently forced to flee to the back country. There he lived as a hermit in solitude and prayer, but he made friends with the wild animals. One day a group of hunters seeking wild animals for the amphitheater stumbled upon Blaise’s cave. They were first surprised and then frightened. The bishop was kneeling in prayer surrounded by patiently waiting wolves, lions and bears.

The legend has it that as the hunters hauled Blaise off to prison, a mother came with her young son who had a fish bone lodged in his throat. At Blaise’s command the child was able to cough up the bone.

Agricolaus, governor of Cappadocia, tried to persuade Blaise to sacrifice to pagan idols. The first time Blaise refused, he was beaten. The next time he was suspended from a tree and his flesh torn with iron combs or rakes. Finally, he was beheaded.

With the celebration of Saint Blaise, we also bless throats with the candles blessed on the second.

I encourage everyone to bring different candles with them to church to be blessed at all the weekend masses next weekend. Following mass next weekend, I will also be blessing throats for anyone who wishes to receive this blessing.

As mentioned in last week’s bulletin, the Knights of Columbus will be sponsoring Bingo on Friday, March 17 for Saint Patrick’s Day. Food and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase that night. While bingo is played, the parish will also be hosting a bake sale that same night. We are looking for any volunteers to help in the kitchen with food preparations as well as donations for the bake sale. Please contact the parish office at your earliest convenience to let us know if you can help with this.

I look forward to seeing you all at our Mardi Gras party on February 18. Please RSVP as soon as possible to the parish office.

With Mardi Gras in our view, that means Lent is right around the corner. In the coming weeks, we will have a schedule of events in our parish for Lent in the bulletin. I hope we all can take opportunity this Lent to grow in our prayer and discernment of the Lord’s will.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

Mardi Gras RSVP Form

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