Dear Parish Family
At the end of my homily last weekend I mentioned some changes to our liturgical schedule that will come into effect on July 1, 2018. These are not changes to the mass schedule—that remains the same—but to the availability of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Why make these changes? At the beginning of May, I went to Rome on vacation. I noticed that since the Year of Mercy in 2016, there has been a significant increase in opportunities to go to confession and adoration. This isn’t just in big churches like St Peter’s but also in smaller churches. In my homily last weekend, I talked about the importance of us being intentional and mindful about our preparation to come to mass, and it is clear that this approach is being taken in Rome too.
I came back from my trip feeling strongly that we should do something more to increase the opportunities we have here at St Brendan. The number of people coming to Daily Mass, Adoration and Reconciliation has increased here and I have often been told that people would like more. That’s one of the reasons why we have included an Adoration Chapel in the new design for a parish center. So, from July 1, the following will be the new schedule for Adoration and Confession. Please note that this change includes eliminating confessions before the 5:30 PM Vigil Mass so that the priest can also be mindful and intentional in his preparation for Mass too.
Monday: No adoration or Confessions (church cleaning takes place on Mondays)
Tuesday: Adoration after Mass until 10 AM, confessions until the last one is heard.
Wednesday: Adoration from 7:30 AM–8:00 AM, Holy Hour with Adoration, Benediction and Confessions from 6 PM–7 PM
Thursday: Adoration after Mass until 10 AM, Confessions until the last one is heard
Friday: Adoration after Mass until 10 AM, Confessions until the last one is heard
Saturday: Adoration after morning Mass until 10 AM, Confessions until the last one is heard.
No confessions before vigil Mass
We welcome those who wish to pray the rosary as a group in the mornings, but invite you to do so in the cry room so that an atmosphere of prayerful silence is maintained in church during adoration.
This schedule doubles the amount of time available for Adoration and Confessions every week!
On a final note, sometimes you will see one of the priests praying during adoration while the other is hearing confessions. Please don’t disturb us! We need prayer time with Jesus too and are always praying for all of YOU. In the season of Lent when lines are likely to be longer, we will also ask one of our generous retired priests to help us once or twice a week so that all confessions are heard in a timely manner.
God bless,
