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Entries for December 2024
Let’s embrace Catholic resolutions together for the New Year, strengthening our faith as families and individuals. Here are some thoughtful ideas to consider:
Set aside consistent time for prayer.
Join the Bible in a Year Journey with Fr. Mike Schmitz.
Read more spiritual books.
Commit to praying the Rosary more regularly.
Attend Mass more than once a week.
Spend time in Adoration at least once a month.
Go to confession more frequently.
Learn about the lives of Catholic saints.
Explore saint-inspired recipes for family meals.
Visit Catholic pil...
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I’ll be the first to admit it: Epiphany’s Mass involves a lot of words. Prophet and gospel are lengthy. Our best-known hymn for the day (written in Williamsport, mind you!) doesn’t really allow much room to sensibly skip verses. Throw in Eucharistic Prayer I, with its special texts for the Epiphany and we end up with a lot of words.
There’s one more set of words we could add: the Announcement of Easter and the Moveable Feasts, a chant given to the deacon to proclaim after today’s gospel. We won’t be doing it, but here are the words:
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The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God is a liturgical celebration observed on January 1.
It is a holy day of obligation for Catholics, meaning that Mass attendance is required.
The use of the word “solemnity” here is not a statement about Mary’s personality. It is a designation used for certain days within the liturgical (church-based) calendar of the Church. Solemnities are the highest rank of liturgical celebration, higher than feast days or memorials. By celebrating a solemnity dedicated to Mary’s motherhood, the Church highlights the si...
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Join us for an open house at the St. Boniface rectory on January 5. Stop in anytime between noon and 3 p.m. to celebrate the joy of the Lord's Epiphany. Enjoy some light hors d'oeuvres and the company of friends old and new.
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It’s still Christmas. It wasn’t Christmas the day after Halloween or the day after Thanksgiving. No matter what the radio played or what shops looked like, it just wasn’t Christmas. It really wasn’t Christmas during those hectic weeks of parties and concerts, shopping, and cookie baking.
But now it’s Christmas, and Christmas sticks around for us as Catholics. We’re still celebrating Christmas today as we reflect on the Holy Family. New Year’s Eve and Day will be the Octave Day of Christmas (along with our celebration of Mary as M...
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Our next batch of 300 Club tickets will go on sale starting the weekend of January 4th. Each ticket is priced at $1. The first of five drawings will take place on February 9th. Tickets will be available after Masses beginning on January 4th and will be sold until they are gone. If you're unable to attend Mass but would like to purchase a ticket, please contact Deb at 570-220-2303 or Lenny at 570-772-0722. Thank you!
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Please mark your calendars and consider volunteering to help set up the Christmas decorations at St. Lawrence Church on Sunday, December 22 after 8 a.m. Mass (about 9 a.m.).
Come dressed comfortably, as decorations will need to be moved from the garage to the church.
If you have any questions or need further details, please contact Dianne Fisher at 570-322-3278, or reach out to any member of the Saint Lawrence Activity Committee.
Thank you for your help!
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We all know that Advent is about looking forward. Yes, we look forward to Christmas, to remember how God came into our world in the incarnation. Perhaps, more importantly, we look forward to his Second Coming when we enter into a new heaven and earth, where tears are wiped away, death is defeated and life—a perfectly happy life—never ends.
While I certainly want us to seize the moment of each Advent day and hour, let’s look ahead to some things happening in our parish:
Christmas Confessions: Last opportunities before Christmas on Mondays, December 16...
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Christmas Masses:
Christmas Eve: 4 p.m. at St. Boniface Church & 6:30 p.m. at St. Lawrence Church
Christmas Day: 12:00 a.m. (midnight) at St. Boniface Church & 9 a.m. at St. Lawrence Church
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Reverend Thomas Joseph Major, Pastor, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Dushore, died on the 6th day of December, 2024, after having faithfully served the Diocese of Scranton for thirty-three years. Father Major was an assistant pastor, Annunciation, Williamsport in July 1991. Father Major also served the Diocese as chaplain, Penn College, Williamsport, Lycoming College and the Clarks Summit State Hospital.
Please keep his family, friends and Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in your prayers.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shi...
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We are updating our database! Please let us know if you have new contact information (phone number, cell number, email, etc.) We have found many phone numbers are out of date and disconnected. Call the parish office at 570-326-1544 or email stboniface@comcast.net with any changes. Thank you!
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Tomorrow—the Immaculate Conception of Mary: Shouldn’t it be today, December 8? How did it land on the 9th? But, on Monday, that day wouldn’t be a holy day of obligation, right? Yes, Mary’s conception is set for December 8— exactly nine months before the feast of her nativity. But, when it falls on Advent Sunday, Advent (just like Lent or Easter) wins over the feast. But, it’s an important feast because, obviously of Mary and because it’s the patronal feast for the United States. So, it gets moved instead of canceled. Rome has recent...
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Join us on Saturday, December 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Parish.
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I’m writing this column a full week before Thanksgiving. And I just got back from Hobby Lobby. It wasn’t really a fun trip. (No fault of the store, by any means!) I only needed candles for the Advent wreaths in the house. I know they had them last year. But, they’re not exactly in an easy spot to find. I had to plow through all sorts of Santas and trees, shiny ornaments and fake gift boxes (Why, for heaven’s sake, is that even a thing?), crowds of people piling up the stuff they apparently need to get before Thanksgiving arrives in 8 days. And, of co...
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Thanks to the generosity of St. Boniface parishioners, Sojourner Truth Ministries was provided with pumpkin pies, cranberry sauce, and rolls for the Thanksgiving holiday. The Thanksgiving Day meal, along with a leftover dinner the following day, served over 200 guests. Parish volunteers continue to serve meals every Friday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
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Sojourner Truth