Dear Parishioners,
As we walk into our three beautiful churches, you will notice that all of the Christmas flowers, wreathes and decorations are gone! It’s hard to believe that Christmas is over. Even in the midst of this global pandemic, these last weeks of Christmas were a time of great rejoicing and spiritual renewal. Jesus, the Word made flesh came to make his dwelling among us. Now as we enter into the Ordinary Time of the liturgical year, our scripture passages focus on the beginning of Jesus public ministry. We hear in today’s gospel Jesus referred to as the Lamb of God. As we proclaim at every Mass we participate at, Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. As the Lord begins his public ministry, he calls his disciples to go out and to proclaim the Good News of salvation. Ultimately, the Lord is calling us to go out and do just that. Our first reading today tells of the call of Samuel. Samuel responds to God, “here I am Lord, I come to do your will”. Those should be our words to the Lord today. Each of us have been called by God to do his will here on earth. In just about 5 weeks, we will begin the season of Lent. May this in between time be moments of grace and renewal as we fulfill the will of our Heavenly Father.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Service
The annual prayer service commemorating the birthday of civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will take place this Monday, January 18 at Our Lady of Victory Church beginning at 12:00 Noon. The prayer service will be Midday Prayer along with some of the excerpts of Dr. King’s speeches and letters. Our parish choir will lead us in song. All are invited to pray with us. The service will also be live-streamed through our parish website and Facebook page.
St. Peter Claver Church 100th Anniversary
We have looked forward over these last few months to celebrating with joy the 100th anniversary of the establishment of St. Peter Claver Church. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, we have not had the opportunity to gather in celebration the way that we would have. Our anniversary committee have come up with some creative ideas to commemorate this milestone. Of course, with every anniversary, there will be a gala dinner and a fundraising raffle. Our gala dinner has been scheduled for Friday, May 21, 2021 to be held at Glenn Terrace. Not knowing what the Spring will bring us with the coronavirus, we still have secured the date. If it is unable to take place, the date will be changed and you will have the option to have your money refunded. Raffles are available for $10 per ticket which will be on sale this week after all of the masses at each of the three churches. Prizes include an Apple iWatch, Apple iPad, a Smart TV with Bose sound bar with CD player and a $500 gift card. All proceeds will go to support St. Peter Claver Church.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
Monday, January 18 is a national holiday. The parish office will be closed and only one Mass will be celebrated which will be at 8:00AM at Our Lady of Victory Church. There will not be a 12:00 Noon Mass at St. Peter Claver Church.
Wishing you a joyful and peaceful week,
Father Alonzo Q. Cox