YOU ARE GOD’S BUILDING: AN IMPORANT MESSAGE ABOUT PARISH MASS TIMES
As we draw close to the end of another Liturgical Year, we are invited to reflect on a series of mysteries of faith: All Souls, Christ the King (coming up on November 22-23) and this Sunday’s Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome.
Although this weekend’s celebration points to the great Roman edifice called St. John Lateran (named for St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist), it also affirms the truth that we are the living stones with which the Lord continues to build His Church.
SACROS-LATERAN-ECCLES- OMNIVM VRBIS ET ORBIS ECCLESIARVM MATER ET CAPVT
These Latin words are emblazoned on the façade of the Cathedral of Rome which contains the principal Cathedra (Chair) of the Pope who is Bishop of Rome. The inscription translates, “Of all the churches in the city and in the world, this one is mother and head”. We are all connected, it affirms! Church buildings have an incredible dignity and importance in our Catholic tradition, but they function ‘sacramentally’ by pointing to an even deeper bond of connection between persons in the communion of saints and souls, the Mystical Body of Christ spread throughout the world. Where and when we gather as believers for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and other public and liturgical prayer is definitional for who we are as Catholics. We are creatures of habit and this is a good thing, though sometimes adjustments are needed to gather our energies as a parish. Thank you for your attention to the following adjustments: Our current Mass schedule will remain through the Feast of Epiphany the weekend of January 3-4, 2026. Beginning the weekend of January 10-11, the follow adjustments will take effect:
3:45pm Confessions and 4:30pm Mass at Holy Cross will be discontinued. Attendance at this Mass has dwindled considerably and it has been exceedingly difficult to maintain volunteers to serve in the various liturgical roles. Note that there may be occasions when we offer stand-alone Saturday Masses at Holy Cross to precede various events, but the weekly Mass is unfortunately not sustainable.
Confessions at St. Hedwig Saturday afternoon will be extended to begin at 2:45pm each Saturday, preceding the weekly 4:00pm anticipatory Mass.
Our Sunday morning 10:00am Mass at St. Hedwig will be shifted up fifteen minutes to begin at 9:45am. Confessions will no longer be heard weekly before Mass on Sundays there, although we may have periodic confession times available as priests are able.
These adjustments are not for the sake of change but rooted in a desire to support priests and musicians in the time needed to transition between various campuses and Masses during our very eventful weekends. They aim to foster unity and greater sustainability within our parish. While any change to our liturgical schedule is an adjustment, I hope that a two month lead-time on this announcement will help make it more palatable.
The key reason for my September pilgrimage to Rome was to pass through the Holy Doors of the Four Major Basilicas of Rome. St. John Lateran has always held a very dear place in my heart because of its proximity to our sister church in Rome, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, but also because I studied at the Lateran University from 2012-2014 which is in the Cathedral’s backyard.
This week we embark on a Jubilee Bus Pilgrimage. We will carry all your intentions with us along the way!
United in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Faith, -Fr. Howe