23 January 2021
Please note the following announcements:
1.
Our Faith Formation continues despite the pandemic. Our children are meeting after mass for adoration and a rosary followed by Catechesis. Please support these Catholics in formation as they prepare for the sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Holy Communion!
The next meetings are
January 10 (cancelled) and 24,
February 7 and 21,
March 7 and 21,
April 11 and 25.
2.
Catholic Inquiry Class
Have you thought about becoming Catholic? Do you just want to ask questions with no pressures or expectations? If you are not Catholic or know someone that wants to explore the Catholic Faith, Fr. Schultz has an invitation for you. I am offering a Catholic Inquiry Class for anyone not Catholic with these questions. Classes will be held on Mondays from 6:30 to 7:30pm at All Saints Classroom (off the sacristy). If this date and time does not work for you, please call me at 603.788.5553 and we will find a time that works for you!
3.
If you cannot attend mass for a serious reason ask your Guardian Angel to go to mass for you at the specified time. This way, even though you cannot be in mass in person, your very own Guardian Angel will be in attendance as "your representative". (Too bad you can't ask them to put something in the collection basket for you!) Here is a charming prayer you and your children can say:
At Offertory, in my stead,
Take all I am and own,
And place it as a sacrifice
Upon the Altar Throne.
At Holy Consecration’s bell,
Adore with Seraph’s love,
My Jesus hidden in the Host,
Come down from Heaven above.
Then pray for those I dearly love,
And those who cause me grief,
That Jesus’ Blood may cleanse all hearts,
And suff’ring souls relieve.
And when the priest Communion takes,
Oh, bring my Lord to me,
That His sweet Heart may rest on mine,
And I His temple be.
Pray that this Sacrifice Divine,
May mankind’s sins efface;
Then bring me Jesus’ blessing home,
The pledge of every grace. Amen
Let us not doubt the power nor goodness of God--He can do all things even giving us the power to command our Guardian Angels to go to mass for us when we cannot go. "For, amen I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Remove from hence hither, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you."
"If we are deprived of sacramental communion, let us replace it, as far as we can, with spiritual communion, which we can make every moment: for we aught to have always a burning desire to receive the Good God."
--St. Jean-Marie Baptiste Vianney, parish priest of Ars, France; Patron Saint of all parish priests.
Almighty Father, you have firmly established your love for Gate of Heaven Parish and for each of us. We praise and thank you for placing us amid the deep beauty of the North Country, a beauty that speaks eloquently of your glory and calls us to acknowledge your greatness and love.
O Lord, you have given our parish the opportunity and challenge of coming together as family, to be ambassadors of your grace to one another and to our farthest neighbor. Grant us to respond lovingly and obediently to your call to seek justice in all our actions, to serve the poor in body and soul, and to share the good news of your Son, Jesus.
O Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, inflame our hearts with your love. Broaden our vision and open our hearts to what you are bringing about. Set our parish and the whole North Country on fire with your Holy Spirit, to bring about a renewed flourishing of our Catholic faith. Amen.
Memorare
REMEMBER, O most compassionate Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I kneel, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.