As I conveyed earlier, I would be blogging very little during the Christmas and New Year's break. I have been trying to rediscover my basement and several other neglected areas of my home (I also rediscovered Pizza as I tried to stay away from cooking - another enjoyable past-time which usually takes more time than I estimate).
I want to remind everyone about the Memorial Mass for the Servant of God, Fr. John A. Hardon which will take place tonight at Ss Cyril & Methodius at 7:00pm. The Rosary will take place before the Mass. There is a light social afterwards. The Mass will be celebrated by Fr. Robert McDermott - postulator for the cause of Fr. Hardon.
SOLEMNITY OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
January 1st is a Holy Day of obligation. Assumption Grotto's annual 11:00pm Mass on New Year's Eve for the Solemnity of the Mother of God will take place at 11:00pm on New Year's Eve. OK, I had to say it because someone always asks.
Then we pile into the school for a pot-luck dinner, champagne/wine. It may be in the lounge this year as the parish tries to conserve on fuel costs, but I'm not sure about this yet. It was being mulled when I left Sunday.
The 11:00pm vigil Mass is celebrated in the ordinary form (at least it was last year, and the EF Mass is held at the 9:30am on January 1st). Other opportunities to satisfy the obligation include the 4:00pm vigil Mass on December 31st, and the 6:30am, and Noon Masses, both in ordinary form with some Latin.
Here is a slideshow from last year's liturgy (which was concelebrated in the ordinary form in Latin):
LAST CHANCE FOR HAYDN THERESIENEMESSE
This coming Sunday, at the Noon Mass will be the last opportunity to hear Haydn's Theresienemesse with the Assumption Grotto Choir and Orchestra. Orchestra Masses do run longer, so plan accordingly. If there is one thing I learned after coming to Grotto, it's that worship ought not run by a clock. It's easy to lose concept of time when there are so many sights and sounds lifting the soul into deep interior worship (at least for those who aren't keeping an eye on their watch and just let it happen). Prelude music begins about 15-20 minutes before the Mass.
You may also be interested in the Mass and Confesion Schedule at Assumption Grotto for throughout these holidays.
IF YOU MISSED THE PHOTOS OF GROTTO ALL DECKED-OUT
Click here to see pictures of the church interior decorations this year.
TWITTER FEED
I continue to update Twitter several times daily with interesting reads on issues of interest to Catholics, so do check it out. Just click the Twitter Bird that says "Follow Me" in my sidebar to read the feed. You don't need an account to read it. Rather, if you want to follow multiple people at once rather than click on a number of feeds, you would want to create an account, or if you want to Tweet yourself. It's very time consuming to blog every issue out there, and quite frankly exhausting to keep up with.
Have a blessed and safe New Year!
The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!