On this Second Sunday of Advent, we are reminded of how we should be ready for the coming of the Lord. For some it might mean reaching out to those in need, mending family relationships or starting a new venture. Whatever it might be, we must be alert and vigilant. As the future of the family of parishes unfolds, we are ready for whatever comes. A few weeks ago at the Guardian Angels Parish Council Meeting, a member of the Council brought up the dropping of the noon Mass. With a unanimous consent of the Council, it was decided to move forward. Beginning January 1, 2023, the new Guardian Angels Mass schedule for Sunday will be: 5:00 pm Saturday Vigil and on Sunday Morning at 8:00 am and 10:00 am.  It was discussed that prior to a new pastor arriving, each parish was to drop one Mass in June 2022. Immaculate Heart of Mary followed that advice and dropped the 7:30 am Sunday Mass. Many from that Mass have been attending the 8:00 am Mass at Guardian Angels. Within the family of parishes, the schedule for weekend liturgies beginning January 1, 2023 will be:

Guardian Angels
5:00 pm Saturday Vigil
8:00 am and 10:00 am Sunday Morning

Immaculate Heart of Mary
5:00 pm Saturday Vigil
9:30 am and 11:30 am on Sunday Morning
5:30 pm on Sunday Afternoon

St. John Fisher
4:30 pm Saturday Vigil
9:00 am and 11:00 am on Sunday Morning

This Thursday is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The Immaculate Heart of Mary Worship Commission in realizing there is a 6:15 pm and 7:00 pm Mass in the family of parishes will be dropping the 7:00 pm Mass on the Holyday. Masses that day will be at Guardian Angels at 7:30 am, 9:00 am (School Mass) and 7:00 pm. Immaculate Heart of Mary will have Masses at 6:30 am, 8:15 am (School Mass) and 12:00 noon. St. John Fisher will have Masses at 8:00 am and 6:15 pm.

The Pathways Team has been meeting. There are three subgroups of Eucharist, Church and Leadership. The Eucharist group looks at the Mass schedule assessing that the average attendance must be at least 50% of the church capacity and that there are a sufficient number of trained ministers for Eucharistic celebrations. A priest may not assume more than two Masses per day. The Church group is tasked with forming a name for the family and envisioning a coordinated ministry between the family of parishes. The leadership group helps to form a unified pastoral council for the family, enables finance councils to work together and recommending competent and qualified staff for the family of parishes. This envisioning process by the leadership team will span over a twelve to eighteen month period from which a unified leadership team for the family of parishes will commence. Changes will be inevitable.  However, one can look at change  in two ways: either waving to the past or embracing the future with open arms. We embrace our future with open arms whatever may come with positivity, grace and compassion.