This past weekend I was out on Peaks Island for a wedding and for the weekend Mass. Nestled in among the peaceful and picturesque homes, our St. Christopher’s Parish is a beautiful little church that is home to a tight-knit and dedicated community. Speaking with the congregation this past week, I asked for their input on a change to their Mass time. I explained the situation:
Currently, the priest who offers Mass at the Cathedral 8:00AM and 10:00AM must rush off after the 10 to get to the 11:30AM Mass at St. Louis Church, leaving him no time to connect with the Cathedral community, and making his commute quite stressful if the Mass runs long. Whereas the priest who has Peak’s Island is only able to offer that one 10AM Sunday morning Mass because of the limitations imposed by the Ferry schedule. If, on the other hand, the Peak’s community were content to move their Sunday Mass to 8:30AM instead of 10AM, the priest covering Peaks would be able to come back to the mainland in time to offer the 11:30AM at St. Louis, allowing the priest offering Mass at the Cathedral to stay afterward, celebrate baptisms, and enjoy some coffee and treats with parishioners when we get that up and running again.
We all discussed the idea on the way out of church and then over coffee and treats following Mass. The feedback was almost unanimous: the change makes sense and moving the Sunday Mass time to 8:30AM would actually be preferable to many on
the Island.
So, starting on November 28th, the First Sunday of Advent, the Sunday Mass at St. Christopher’s will change to 8:30AM. I am very grateful to our Island parishioners for their flexibility and gracious hospitality. Your priests are also looking forward to a more peaceful and social Sunday morning at the Cathedral.
A head’s up that the feasts of All Saints and All Souls are approaching on November 1st and 2nd, which fall on a Monday and Tuesday this year. The Mass schedule remains 7AM at St. Peters and 12:15PM at the Cathedral both days, but we are adding a 6PM at Sacred Heart/St. Dominic on Monday, November 1st, and at the Cathedral on November 2nd. Bishop Deeley will be celebrating the 12:15PM Mass on Nov. 1st (All Saints), and our special “Mass of Remembrance” at 6:00PM on the feast of All Souls. Because it falls on a Monday this year, the Solemnity of All Saints is not a holy day of obligation, but I hope you are able to come to Mass on the 1st or 2nd nonetheless, given how hopeful these celebrations are in the midst of a world that many times feels so tired and afraid. Know of my prayers!
Fr Seamus