Dear Parishioners,
What a beautiful celebration we had last Sunday at St. Peter Claver! I want to thank all of you who came out last Sunday in the midst of the snow to celebrate as a parish community the beginning of Black History Month. We were able to welcome back Father Patrick West, the former pastor of St. Peter Claver Church. I would like to thank the Parish Black History Month Committee for their work and dedication in making last week’s celebration uplifting and prayerful. I also would like to thank our music ministry program for the beautiful music that uplifted us. I also thank the Holy Name society for their generosity in donating super bowl trinkets to everyone. As you know, each year the Holy Name Society sponsors our annual super bowl party. Because of the pandemic, we were unable to have the party but each parishioner was able to have a small token of this year’s football classic.
Black History Month Movie Series
As has been the custom, each Saturday night during the month of February, we will be showing films that are associated with Black History Month. Our next film showing will take place this Saturday, February 20 following the 5:00PM Vigil Mass at St. Peter Claver Msgr. Rogers Hall. The film is entitled, “American Violet” and it stars Charles S. Dutton and Alfre Woodard. Attendance is free of charge and all are welcomed to join!
Ash Wednesday and Friday Stations of the Cross
This Wednesday, February 17 we begin the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday. The schedule of Masses is the following: 8:00AM at Our Lady of Victory, 12:00Noon at St. Peter Claver and 7:30PM at Our Lady of Victory. In addition, there will be two prayer services with the distribution of ashes: 11:00AM at Holy Rosary and 12:00Noon at Our Lady of Victory. Because of the COVID-19 restrictions, ashes will not be imposed on the forehead. Ashes will be distributed by sprinkling ashes on the crown of the head. This is the best way to safely with the use of sanitization, to distribute ashes. Ashes are actually meant to be sprinkled on the crown of the head. This is the current custom in churches throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. Having ashes imposed on the forehead has become an American custom. These regulations and guidelines come directly from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in Rome. We will continue the custom of praying the stations of the cross each Friday night beginning at 7:00PM at each of the three churches. This Friday, February 19, we will have only one communal station of the cross prayer service in commemoration of Black History Month which will be held at Holy Rosary Church beginning at 7:00PM.
President’s Day Holiday
This Monday, February 5 is President’s Day. It is a national and federal holiday. The parish office will be closed. Only one Mass will be celebrated at 8:00AM at Our Lady of Victory. There will not be a 12:00Noon Mass at St. Peter Claver that day.
Wishing you a blessed and peaceful week,
Father Alonzo Q. Cox