Ask Father....

Very often questions come up regarding situations we see at church every day...here are a few of them:

Why does the priest and deacon kiss the altar when they first start the Mass?

That gesture goes back to the early days of the church when the Mass was held in the catacombs (burial places) of Rome where many martyrs were buried. Every church altar contains relics of some saints. When the priest and the deacon begin the Mass they kiss the altar out of reverence for those holy men and women who have gone before us and a remembrance of those who suffered for the faith.

Why does the deacon bow before the priest before he reads the Gospel?

The deacon bows before the priest before he reads the Gospel (one of the functions of the deacon) to receive a blessing. The priest blesses the deacon and says, “May the Lord be in your mind, in your heart and on your lips as you worthily proclaim the gospel.”

*******
Saints We Honor This Week

Angela Merici - Monday, January 27, Saint of the 16th century-founded the Ursuline religious sisters to work among poor young girls. She once said, “Disorder in society is the result of disorder in the home.”

Thomas Aquinas - Tuesday, January 28 - saint of the 13th century” - the Angelic Doctor” - great theological mind, patron of Catholic schools, philosophers, theologians and booksellers

John Bosco - Friday, January 31, saint of the 19th Century-founded the Salesian religious, known as the “Apostle of Youth” - patron saint of editors.

*******
Blessing of Throats

Next Sunday (February 2) after all the Masses, we will conduct the Blessing of Throats in honor of Saint Blaise whose feast day is Monday, February 3.

*******
Hospitality Sunday

The next Hospitality Sunday is February 2.
This Sunday head over to the school as the Knights of Columbus are conducting a Pancake Breakfast for Catholic Schools Week from 8:00 until Noon.