Weekend of January 10, 2021
Dear People of God,
January brings with it a list of significant celebrations. We began with the feast of Mary the Mother of
God on January 1st; then the feast of the Epiphany on January 6th; the feast of Bl. Fr. Titus Zeman, SDB on January 8th;
today we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord and the end of the Christmas season.
On January 15th we remember Bl. Fr. Luis Variara, SDB; Next week we’ll be preparing for the annual Walk
for Life, (or its equivalent); on the 24th of the month we remember St. Francis de Sales, the namesake of
our Salesian Society; on January 22nd we celebrate Bl. Laura Vicuna and also begin the novena to St. John
Bosco. whose feast will be marked with the Don Bosco Festival from the 29th to the 31st. On January 30th
we remember Bl. Bronislaw Markiewicz; and finally, the feast of St. John Bosco on January 31st. Get
ready, it is going to be a busy and exciting month.
I have been thinking about the Annual Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. Covid
certainly has had a devastating effect on the lives of so many in our country and throughout the world.
This in turn has had its effect on travel and previously scheduled events. The events in Washington, D.C.
and the more local regional event in St. Augustine, Florida have already been modified in a significant
way to keep in line with the pandemic safety procedures.
With that in mind, I am thinking of offering a day of prayer, reflection, adoration, and mass for us here at
Mary Help of Christians. More details will be given after our parish council meeting on January 7th.
Think about it. Reflect on it. Pray on it. . . .and let me know what you think.
Please set aside Friday evenings in January for a Zoom discussion beginning at 7:00pm. These
discussions will center around what makes our parish a Salesian parish...and other pertinent Salesian
topics. They will last in the beginning only about 30 minutes. We’ll see if there proves to be a need to
expand this time limit because of the interest in the topic discussed.
As usual please remember to pray for all of the Salesians in our presence here at MHC . . . especially
those at St. Philip Residence. Be assured we will be doing the same for you.
Peace Always!
Fr. Steve Dumais, SDB.
Pastor