Letter from Fr. Allen: The Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 28, 2019

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+JMJ+

Dear Friends,

Greetings, felicitations, and happy Opening Day of baseball season! Although for some reason not considered to be a Solemnity in the Church's calendar, my own pastoral advice is that this is one of those days on which one might consider a small relaxation of one's personal Lenten disciplines, at least to include a hot dog or three, peanuts, Cracker Jack, maybe even a cold barley pop.

One of the things that makes Opening Day so special is the sense that anything can happen. It's a day that is brimming with possibility, when every team, every player, every fan can think, "this is it; this is the year we win it all!" It is a fresh start. 

In Christ, every day is Opening Day. The mercies of the Lord are new every morning (Lam 3.22-23). All that is required is that we accept that mercy - which means, of course, accepting our own sinfulness, confessing it, and then leaving it behind for ever. Every time we confess, we are made new, our sins are removed "as far as the east is from the west" (Ps 103.12), and then, anything is possible: we may love; we may lives as God's own children; we may be free.

[Here] you will see the announcement that my friend Father - now Monsignor - Carl Reid has been appointed by Pope Francis to be the Ordinary of our sister Ordinariate in Australia, The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross. An "ordinary" is not a diocesan bishop, but has the juridical authority of a Diocesan bishop though not the sacramental powers (so, for instance, he can not ordain priests). 

Monsignor Reid has been a great encouragement and support in many ways, not least by lending his musical expertise. He is responsible for producing the St. Peter Gradual, which compiles the proper chants from our Missal, and which our choir uses every Sunday. So join me in praying for Msgr Reid and the clergy and faithful of the Australian Ordinariate, that this new ministry will bring greater glory to God and build up the Church.

God bless you,
Fr. Allen

Easter Egg Hunt 2019

Update: the Easter Egg Hunt has been rescheduled to Sunday, 5 May, after the 11AM Mass.

We will host an Easter Egg Hunt after the 11AM Mass on [updated date:] Sunday, 5 May. We will have Punch on the Portico at the same time.

There will be separate areas for toddlers to hunt for eggs away from the older children for safety reasons.

Inclement weather plans: we will move Punch on the Portico to the Narthex and distribute eggs to the children rather than having them hunt for them.

Parents are requested to bring 10-12 filled plastic Easter Eggs no later than Palm Sunday, 14 April. It is requested that treats in the eggs have limited nuts and dairy/egg contents as a few children have allergies. Loose change is always a good egg stuffer!

Judi Lester will collect the eggs from you and is happy to answer any questions you may have. She is available by email or at 843.425.0783.

RSVP for Wednesday School: 3 April 2019

Joining us for Wednesday School on April 3rd? Please RSVP using the form below so that we may adequately prepare. If you’re one of our regularly Wednesday School families and you’re not able to make it this week, would you please also respond and mark the number of people coming as 0? This also helps us prepare. Thank you!

Priest of the North American Ordinariate chosen to lead Australian Ordinariate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
To the Clergy and Faithful of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter
HOUSTON, TEXAS, March 26, 2019

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It is my privilege and joy to share with you the happy news that our Holy Father, Pope Francis and has appointed our own Father Carl Reid as Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross in Australia. This comes as the Holy Father has accepted the retirement of Monsignor Harry Entwistle, who headed the Ordinariate there since its founding in 2013. [...]

Father Carl will be installed as Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross on Tuesday, August 27, at 7pm at the Cathedral of St. Mary’s in the Archdiocese of Sydney by the Archbishop, Most Rev. Anthony Fisher, O.P. Archbishop Fisher will be joined by Archbishop Augustine DiNoia, O.P., Adjunct Secretary of Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Monsignor Keith Newton from the UK Ordinariate and I will be representing our respective Ordinariates at the Installation celebrations. All of our clergy and faithful are welcome, though admittedly it’s a long way to go for Mass! [...]

With prayerful best wishes, I am
Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Rev. Steven J. Lopes

Read Bishop Lopes' entire message here.

Letter from Fr. Allen: The Third Sunday in Lent & the Annunciation of the Lord, March 21, 2019

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+JMJ+

Dear Friends,

I feel like each of these little weekly epistles could begin with "Time flies!" Or, as Ferris Beuller said, "Life comes at you fast." And indeed it does. Below you will see notices for our Lent, Holy Week, and Sacred Triduum liturgies, as well as for this month's Evensong and Benediction, and also a Penance service.

Another exciting day I ask you to place on your calendars is Sunday, May 19th, when Bishop Lopes will join us for First Communions and Confirmations. I will have more information soon regarding the Bishop's visit and attendant celebrations, but for now I want simply to ask you in your charity to pray for those who are to receive the Sacraments at his hands:

First Communion: Henry A.; Ian C.; Juliana J.; Poppy M.

Confirmation: Lucy A.; William C.; Sean G.; Nathaniel H.; Beckham H.; Joshua J.; Elizabeth J.

Reception into Full Communion, Confirmation, and First Communion: Betsy S.

This is an exciting time in the life of our community as each of these dear ones moves "further up and further in" in his or her life in Christ. And it is a time for us to renew within ourselves the graces of these Sacraments, by giving ourselves to prayer, penance, and the practice of charity, sharing in their joy.

God bless you,
Fr. Allen
 
A prayer for those being prepared to receive First Holy Communion: 
O JESUS, who hast loved us with such exceeding great love as to give us the ineffable gift of the Holy Eucharist, inflame us with a burning zeal to promote Thy glory by preparing worthily the little children who are to approach Thy holy table for the first time. Protect, O Sacred Heart of Jesus, these young souls from the assaults of evil, strengthen their faith, increase their love and endow them with all the virtues that will make them worthy to receive Thee. Amen.

A prayer for those being prepared for Confirmation:
O GOD, who through the teaching of thy Son Jesus Christ didst prepare the disciples for the coming of the Comforter: Make ready, we beseech thee, the hearts and minds of thy servants who at this time are seeking the gifts of the Holy Ghost through the laying on of hands and anointing, that, drawing near with penitent and faithful hearts, they may be filled with his power; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Evensong 31 March 2019

Choral Evensong & Benediction

of the Blessed Sacrament

Sunday, 31 March October, 4.30PM

a small reception will follow

Let my prayer be set forth in thy sight as the incense;

and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice.

RSVP for Wednesday School: 27 March 2019

Joining us for Wednesday School on March 27th? Please RSVP using the form below so that we may adequately prepare. If you’re one of our regularly Wednesday School families and you’re not able to make it this week, would you please also respond and mark the number of people coming as 0? This also helps us prepare. Thank you!