Jan 13, 2022

Greetings,

And HAPPY FEAST OF ST. SEBASTIAN!  Our actual feast day is on January 20, but a parish is permitted to move the celebration to the weekend so that everyone may participate. This weekend we give thanks for his intercession and ask him to continue his prayers on behalf of our community.

Because of St. Sebastian's role as being the patron saint to invoke against contagious diseases and plagues, we have a particular obligation to ask for his intervention to keep us safe during this time of COVID.

PRAYER TO ST. SEBASTIAN DURING TIME OF PANDEMIC

O Glorious St. Sebastian, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, to you do we raise our hearts and hands and implore your powerful intercession in obtaining, from God the Father, all the helps and graces necessary for our spiritual and temporal welfare, and especially in our day, for protection against contagious diseases. O, special guardian from diseases and accidents, we are confident that your intercession on our behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. Amen.

St. Sebastian is considered a protector against the plague. He is celebrated for his protection in answer to intercessory prayer against the plagues in Rome in 680, Milan in 1575, and Lisbon in 1599.” He had never come in contact with a plague during his life, but his recovery from what seemed certain death by being pierced by many arrows has inspired Catholics to call for his intercession for centuries. Therefore we call out in joy and hope, “St. Sebastian, pray for us!”

IN OTHER NEWS:

CANCELLATIONS:  Due to the current concerns over COVID and having received instructions from our bishop, many large gatherings that would have been taking place this month and early next month have either been cancelled or postponed. Among the casualty list is our St. Sebastian Feast Day Spaghetti Dinner. On the postponed list currently is the International Festival (which helps pay for all of the needs in the sanctuary including candles, books, vestments and such) Night at the Races (which is well known for keeping our sports programs among the most affordable and accessible) and Theology on the Rocks. Keep an eye out for upcoming details.

THANK YOU!: For those who have made the sacrifice to give a little more to the parish during the straining time of COVID, THANK YOU! We are able to remain strong and serve God and community well because of you.

LETTER FROM DOMINION:   We received this notification from Dominion Gas which intends to replace the gas lines along Mull Avenue in preparation for the street work this coming summer:

We’re in the process of scheduling our work. I don’t have an official start date, but I would anticipate the work beginning in the next couple of weeks. I will follow up with you when I have a firm date, but I wanted to give you the opportunity to let your school parents as well as your congregation know during Mass. While we will have work in front of the Parish, our contractor will make an effort to minimize disruption and maintain access to the entrances and exits.

Bryan D. Dayton - Gas Projects Manager

God bless,

Fr. Valencheck