Merry Christmas

12-01-2016Pastor's LetterMsgr. Gregory W. Gordon

Dear Saint Anne Parish Family,

As we begin this holy season of Advent, I pray that the Lord will bless each of you and your families in these days. On Thursday 8 December, the Immaculate Conception of Mary, Masses will be offered at 7:30 AM (Eng), 9 AM (Eng), 12 PM (Sp), 5 PM (Eng), and 7 PM (Sp). Bishop Pepe will celebrate the 7 PM  December 8th Mass at Saint Anne’s with Pope Francis’ pilgrim Virgin of Our Lady of Charity. On Monday 12 December, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Masses (in Spanish) will be 7 PM and 11 PM on the Vigil, and 6 AM, 7:30 AM (Eng), 12 PM, and 6 PM on December 12th. Family-centered festivities in our courtyard will follow each of the Masses on the 12th.

Saint Anne’s Advent Penance Service will be Wednesday, 7 December at 5:00 PM; 7 priests will celebrate the sacrament of Confession and share the Lord’s gift of reconciliation with you.

Our Parish will celebrate during the Novena of Christmas Simbang Gabi, with evening Mass and Filipino traditions at 8:30 PM from December 15 through December 23.  

At Christmas we celebrate the Nativity of the Lord. On Christmas Eve, Saturday 24 December, Mass will be offered at 4 PM (Eng), 6 PM (Sp), 10 PM (Eng), and 12 Midnight (Sp). On Christmas Day, Sunday 25 December, Mass will be similar to the Sunday Schedule: 8 AM (Eng), 10 AM (Sp), 12 PM (Eng), 2 PM (Sp), 5 PM (Eng) and 7 PM (Sp). There will be no 6:30 AM Mass on Christmas Day.   

On the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God, Mass will again follow the Sunday Schedule: 4 PM (Eng) and 6 PM (Sp) on New Year’s Eve, 31 December 2016; and on New Year’s Day, Sunday, 1 January 2017 at 6:30 AM (Sp), 8 AM (Eng), and 10 AM (Sp), 12 Noon (Eng), 2 PM (Sp), 5 PM (Eng), and 7 PM (Sp).

Enclosed are a Saint Anne Parish 2017 wallet calendar and a Christmas photo. A Christmas Mass schedule and a Christmas offering envelope are also enclosed. We thank you for your generosity on this most holy of days when the Lord became incarnate; when Mercy came down from heaven.

Padre Gregorio, Father Mugagga, Deacon Santiago, Brother Jose and I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year 2017. We will remember you and your loved ones at Mass as we celebrate our Savior’s Birth, and we look forward to praying with you in the holy days ahead. May Christ’s Mercy be with you throughout the New Year and always.

Sincerely in Christ,
Msgr. Gregory W. Gordon
Pastor, Saint Anne Church