Category: From the Pastor’s Desk (Page 17 of 77)

Dear Parishioners and Visitors:

Giving thanks to God for all His blessings and provisions at Thanksgiving time is a wonderful tradition, but continuing this posture throughout the year is spiritually beneficial. It evolves from being an annual tradition to a constant way of life, made possible by the love of God shown to us in Christ. This is how we can live in a state of praise and adoration for our Lord with true Christian thankfulness all year long. 

Liturgically, we’ve arrived at the violet season of Advent. But everywhere else around us “it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.”  Let’s not rush past these spiritually rich weeks of  recollection and anticipation, pondering in review the fruits of the year and looking ahead to the hope of making Jesus incarnate in our words, decisions, and relationships. Advent includes rituals incorporated into home use, like the Advent wreath or the gradually assembled crèche.

Please take home with you a copy of “Advent & Christmas: Waiting in Joyful Hope,” available at the church’s doors this weekend. It is filled with “brief, down-to-earth reflections that bring prayer and Scripture into everyday life.”  May it guide you to a deeper appreciation for God’s gift of Himself in the Christ Child.

Wishing you Happy Thanksgiving and a blessed Advent Season,

Fr. John Mahoney

Project Rachel Ministry

If you or someone you know   is suffering after abortion, confidential, non-judgmental help is available from Project Rachel Ministry.    
Visit:   www.catholicnh.org/project-rachel for more information.

Dear Parishioners and Visitors:

Among the chief priorities of maintaining a parish church are concerns about the safety and security of the church building.

On October 24, the NH State elevator inspector and technicians from Hampshire Fire Protection Company visited the church building for their  annual inspections.  Pressure testing of the elevator’s hydraulic system was done, as were load tests and fire-alarm functioning to ensure that the elevator’s safety components are in good working order and up to code. Elevator    inspections are coordinated with fire protection experts to ensure that in the event of a fire, the alarm system is triggered appropriately, and the elevator car avoids the level at which the fire is active, so that passengers are discharged at a   safe level. The fire protection personnel inspected the fire alarms throughout the church building, performed functionality tests, replaced fire-detection batteries, and conducted tests on the emergency lighting units.

I am happy to report that both agencies who conducted the tests and inspections found that we are “in compliance” with the safety and security measures set forth by the State of New Hampshire for elevators and fire alarm systems! A special word of thanks goes out to Mike Iarocci, Chair of our Building and Grounds Committee, for working with the parish staff and me each year to meet these regulations and regulations that keep our parishioners and visitors safe.

With prayerful best wishes,

Fr. John Mahoney

Congratulations to Parishioner, Peter Laufenberg, who was recently appointed to the Board of Directors for New Hampshire Electric Co-op.  

Best wishes, Peter, in your new position!

Dear Parishioners and Visitors:

On Veterans Day we remember the sacrifices large and small made by members of the armed forces in defense of their country. It is also a day when the Church remembers Saint Martin of Tours, a teenaged Roman soldier when the early Church was in its infancy stages. Although raised a pagan, Martin was interested in becoming a Christian. One night while he was on duty with his troops, Martin encountered a beggar who was half-naked and freezing in the bitter cold. Moved with compassion, Martin cut his military cloak in half and shared it with the beggar. Later that night, Martin had a dream in which he saw Jesus wearing the half-cloak he had given away. Jesus said to him, “Martin, who wishes to become a Christian, clothed me with this robe.” The vision had a great impact on Martin, who converted from paganism to Christianity shortly thereafter! He later became Bishop of Tours, and is the patron saint of horses and those who serve in the military.

To all veterans, living, MIA, and deceased: Thank you for your part in bringing peace to the world!

With prayerful best wishes,

Fr. John Mahoney