Welcome to the New Year. 2025 represents the quarter mark of the twenty-first century. It seems like yesterday that we were worried about the Y2K bug. Blessings to you and yours as we begin this New Year.
As we begin the new year it is time to celebrate and remember what brought us here. The celebrations of the Sacraments of Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Matrimony remained consistent or slightly higher than 2023. The number of parishioners receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation declined slightly (-4), while the number of funeral Masses also declined (-14). We continue to pray for all our faithful departed as well as for all who have received these sacraments and thus have deepened their relationship with the Most Holy Trinity. We look forward to the celebration of First Penance on Monday 27 January, the Sacrament of Confirmation on Wednesday 12 March, and First Holy Communion on Saturday 3 May.
Mass attendance continued to increase in 2024. Weekend Mass attendance increased by 2,560 congregants from last year (+8.5%), and by 7,600 congregants from 2022 (+30.5%). These increases were evident at each weekend Mass, most especially at the 7:30 Mass (+13.7%) and at the 11:30 Mass (+15.8%). Notable increases occurred in the Advent season: +10.1% from 2023; +22.2% from 2022. There were twenty-four Sundays in 2024 when at least 600 parishioners celebrated with us, compared with eight Sundays in 2023, and two Sundays in 2022. It is truly a joy to worship and to offer praise to God with you. I am richly blessed. Thank you for celebrating with us and for sharing your joy and love of the Good News of Christ with our parishioners and our community.
Thank you for your generous Christmas donations and for our Christmas flower collection. Your envelopes are kept near the Tabernacle for prayerful remembrance throughout the Christmas season. Thank you to our Church decorators for making our worship spaces so breathtakingly beautiful through the Advent and Christmas seasons. Thanks also to all who assist at our liturgies – music ministry, lectors, altar servers, ushers. Your diligent preparation as well as your stewardship of time and talent truly enhances our worship experience at Our Lady of Peace and Notre Dame de Lourdes.
The Year 2025 is the beginning of the Jubilee Year – Pilgrims of Hope. An essential element of any Jubilee celebration is the Sacrament of Penance. “The Sacrament of Reconciliation is not only a magnificent spiritual gift, but also a decisive, essential and fundamental step on our journey of faith. There, we allow the Lord to erase our sins, to heal our hearts, to raise us up, to embrace us and to reveal to us his tender and compassionate countenance.” (Pope Francis, Spes Non Confundit, no. 23). Along with sacramental absolution, the Jubilee offers Indulgences.
An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven. Temporal punishment is the purification of unhealthy attachments. This may occur through a life of prayer and works of charity, or after death through the cleansing gift of purgatory. An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all the temporal punishment due to sin. The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or apply them to the deceased.
During the Jubilee Year a plenary indulgence may be obtained by making a pilgrimage to a designated Sacred Jubilee site and participating in Mass while on pilgrimage. Indulgences may be obtained for yourself and on behalf of the Holy Souls, by engaging in the Works of Mercy. Participation in these activities extends the possibility of an indulgence. Sacramental confession, reception of Holy Communion, prayer for the intentions of the Pope, and total detachment to all sin – including venial sin, are further obligations that open us to the immense, unfathomable, pristine treasury of mercy.
Additional information about the Sacrament of Penance may be found at the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 1422 through 1470. Information about indulgences may be found in paragraphs 1471 through 1479.