November 7, 2021 - The Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
November6,2021
My dear Parishioners and Friends,
On November 1, 2018, I began my appointment as pastor of IHM. I had arrived on July 1 as administrator and then I was appointed as your pastor on the above date. On every November 1, All Saints Day, I give thanks to God for being chosen as your pastor. To our Lord and our Lady, I reconsecrate my priesthood and all of you. Let us all pray for the graces we need to be loyal and faithful disciples of the Lord. Since 2018 much has taken place. The pandemic has been difficult for all of us. I continue to appreciate your warm, cordial, hospitality. I continue to see much potential for doing good “here in this place” all to the greater honor and glory of God (ad majorem Dei gloriam.) More than ever, I am aware that I cannot accomplish anything alone, but only by the grace of God with your cooperation. I renew my request that all who read this will kneel down and pray with me that each of us may fully respond to the universal call to holiness, and that by God’s good graces we may lead souls to Christ.
Let each of us renew our steadfast promise to make the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass the center of our Christian lives. Let each of us renew our prayer that those who have wandered away will come back home to the Faith of our Fathers. We must also offer a warm and cordial invitation to all newcomers.
I ask every Father and Mother of Catholic Families to gather with their children at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at least on every Sunday and holyday of obligation. Here is something that can be done, which is the command of our Lord at the Last Supper: “Do this in memory of me!” He gave up His life for us that we might be saved. Let us join with Him in His supreme sacrifice on the cross. On my first Sunday with you we prayed together: “Let us love one another! Let us love one another! Let us love one another!” Let us renew this call out to God.
Yours in our Lord and our Lady, Fr. Mark G. Mazza, Pastor