Mass Times
Weekend
Saturday Vigil: 4:00pm
Sunday: 11:00am
Weekday
Tuesday: 8:00am
and all First Fridays
Confession Times
Saturday: 3:00pm to 3:45pm
or by Appointment
Holy Hour
Saturday: 3:00 - 4:00pm
A Note From
Rev. Joe Koyickal
Series on the Mass – Week 1
“The Mass: The Heart of Our Faith” We begin our journey together to better understand the Holy Mass, so that we can take part in it more fully & with deeper faith. The Mass is not just a service or a routine gathering; it is the memorial of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross, made present to us here & now. In every Mass, heaven touches earth. Christ speaks to us in the Scriptures, offers Himself to the Father, and nourishes us with His Body & Blood.
The Eucharist is truly the “source & summit of our Christian life.” Everything we do as believers flows from the Mass & leads us back to it. When we understand the Mass, we understand the heart of our faith. Over the next few weeks, we will take time to explore the different parts of the Mass—why we do what we do, what it means, & how we can participate more fully. My hope is that, as we rediscover the richness of the Mass, our hearts will be set on fire, & we will never again come to Mass as mere spectators, but as true participants in the mystery of salvation.
The Entrance Procession: The Entrance Procession reminds us that we, the Church, are a people on a journey toward God. As the priest & ministers walk toward the altar, we see a sign of our own journey toward Christ, our destination. The entrance hymn helps us unite our hearts, lifting our minds to God & setting a joyful, reverent tone for worship. So, it is important that we join in singing.
The Cross & the Book of the Gospels: The Cross, carried high in the procession, shows that Christ leads us. It is the sign of our salvation & our victory over sin & death. The Book of the Gospels reminds us that God’s Word is central to our faith. When it is carried & placed on the altar, it shows the connection between the Word & the Eucharist-the two ways Christ feeds us at every Mass.
Reverencing the Altar: The altar is a sacred symbol of Christ Himself-both priest & sacrifice. When the priest & deacon bow & kiss the altar, they show deep reverence for Christ’s presence & for the holy mystery that will soon unfold upon it. Thus, even before a single word is spoken, the Mass already teaches us through movement & symbol that we stand on holy ground & are part of something sacred-the great mystery of our salvations. To be continued...
Blessings of Peace & Joy always!
Fr. Joe
