Tomorrow will be the first day of the new school year! The church campus will once again teem with life as the parents begin dropping off their children for the school day and the laughter and voices of the children fill the halls and the fields with joy! Each year St. James comes back to life as a new school year begins.
This beginning will be like none other than any of us have experienced in our lifetimes. Temperature checks, mask wearing, and distant learning capabilities mark this new school year. Even with all the implemented changes and the necessary limitations placed on our students, faculty, staff, and parents, we are joyful and full of anticipation to welcome everyone back.
It is also good to welcome people back to church! People are taking advantage of the Sunday and weekday masses, the Holy Hours, and the increased opportunities for the Sacrament of Confession. It is encouraging and edifying to see people in the church praying before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament exposed in the Monstrance during the weekdays. Thank you for your faith!
Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Saturday, August 15th, is the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Normally, this day is a Holy Day of Obligation. This year, however, since it falls on a Saturday, it is not. We will still celebrate it at our 9:00 AM mass, but the obligation to attend mass is lifted.
This week we also have the feast days of St. Lawrence, St. Clare of Assisi, and St. Maximilian Kolbe. These three are tremendous examples of faith and dedication to the life of discipleship of Jesus Christ! They are worthy of our imitation and we should ask for their prayers as we follow in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus!
Saints Lawrence, Clare, and Maximilian, pray for us!
May the Lord bless you and your families abundantly this week!
~ Fr. Daniel F. Firmin