Dear Friends,
With this weekend’s celebration of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the liturgical observance of the Christmas season concludes, and on Monday we return to Ordinary Time, which we will observe for about six weeks until Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on February 26.
In looking back over the seasons of Advent and Christmas, I do so with gratitude and no small sense of wonder. The liturgical celebrations of the season were beautiful & wellattended. The number of confessions heard significant. I hope that these seasons of the Church year have served to bring many of you closer to God personally and closer to the people in your life whom you love, especially members of your family.
Some words of gratitude are in order as we look back over Advent and Christmas. I want to thank Bob Lynch and the parish maintenance staff for all the hard work they did to insure that both St. Mary’s and St. Agnes’ Churches were beautifully adorned. The decorations of the churches warmed our hearts and helped, if in a small measure, to connect with the spirit of the season. Thanks go also to Frank Zilinyi and Nancy Campaniolo, our organists, as well as the choir of St. Mary’s for the wonderful music provided for the season. Advent and Christmas are short in duration, but very rich in music and traditions, and these must be used and used well. Finally, thanks go to all of you for your presence during Advent and Christmas, the spirit of faith and devotion manifested by you, and for your ongoing generosity at this time of year but also all throughout the year.
A gentle, but pointed reminder: please take care to observe fire lanes. These must be kept free from any kind of obstruction and if they are not, there is a great potential danger if someone were to become ill or injured and in need of an ambulance, or if there were a fire and the needed fire apparatus could not gain access to the parish property. I ask that all refrain from parking in designated fire lanes at both churches.
As the weather can become problematic at this time of year, it is also worth repeating the snow day policy in place in the parishatlarge. If the weather is inclement and the Milford Public Schools are closed, there are no morning Masses in either church, and Mass intentions, if any, will be rescheduled. Also, if the schools are closed for the day or if they close early because of weather issues, all afternoon and evening meetings are cancelled for the day. The purpose is to insure the your safety. As for weekends, we will have Masses unless there is a dispensation announced by the Archbishop, normally not given except in case of a blizzard or other serious emergency. On weekends, please use common sense in attempting to come to Mass if the roads are hazardous.
