Fr. Greg

By April Bailey, Director of Faith Formation

This weekend we welcome Fr. Dan Morris, the vocation director for our Archdiocese, at our Masses at Prince of Peace. We have invited him to represent the Archbishop’s Call To Share (ACTS) annual appeal which helps support all our vocation efforts and in the formation of seminarians. Please be generous to the ACTS appeal. We have envelopes in the pews if you haven’t already given or received material at home.

Catholic Schools Week begins this Sunday! We love having a Catholic school here at POP. I am so very grateful to all our benefactors, parents, students, teachers, and staff who make it possible. Catholic Schools are a true blessing to our nation—see below some “snaps” that show the value of our schools. May God bless our school!

Peace,
Fr. Greg

Happy Epiphany!!! The Archbishop’s Call to Share (ACTS) kicks off this weekend. This is an annual appeal to fund many important ministries of the Archdiocese that we could not do alone as a single parish. It is the equivalent of our annual parish stewardship which funds our parish ministries, except this appeal funds Archdiocese-wide ministries which benefit us and many others (see examples below). 

Merry Christmas, Happy Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God, Happy New Year and Thank You! Thank you for all the cards, gifts, goodies, and prayers you have given to me and Fr. Andrew! 

January 1st is the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God, normally a holy day of obligation. It still is a holy day, but the obligation is lifted this year by particular rule since it falls on a Monday. In any case, though you are not obliged, it is a great day to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary and her motherhood and continue to come adore her child, Jesus. 

Merry Christmas! Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to people of good will. (Luke 2:14) So the angels sung to the shepherds near Bethlehem.

What color is salvation…justice…joy? Today, it must be Rose. Our first reading talks a little about clothing—a “robe of salvation” and a “mantle of justice”. But it leaves out the detail of what color they are, so we just have to imagine.

I rejoice heartily in the LORD, in my God is the joy of my soul; For he has clothed me with a robe of salvation, and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, Like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a bride bedecked with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)

How are we doing? The second Sunday of Advent focuses on St. John the Baptist who proclaims repentance to the people to make ready the way for the Messiah. So, let’s take a good look at how we are doing. We are about halfway through our year of Eucharist Revival. Prince of Peace does Mass attendance accounts during the month of October. In 2023, we recorded an average of 1,891 people total for Sunday (including Saturday evening) Masses. That is a lot of people, and thanks be to God for this! However, last year, 2022, we had an average of 1,980.