Dear Friends in Christ,
Now that the Christmas Season is over we return to the liturgical season of Ordinary Time. Please note that this name can be deceiving as there is nothing ordinary about Ordinary Time. It is so named because it is ‘ordered’ numerically week to week. This Sunday we begin the Second Week of Ordinary Time and the final week is the Thirty Fourth Week of Ordinary Time which is when we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. In between we will celebrate Lent (Ash Wednesday will be here very soon on February 13), the Triduum, and Easter (Sunday, March 31). The color green of Ordinary Time is significant because it reminds us of the need to grow spiritually throughout the year.
Last weekend I announced that Fr. Mark Wajda has been transferred to St. Paul Catholic Church in Leesburg. Fr. Mark was ordained in 2008 and our parish was his first assignment. His ministry at Annunciation has been a true blessing for all of us and I am especially grateful to him for his dedication and presence to our parish family. On Sunday, January 27, Fr. Wajda will be celebrating the 12 noon Mass. Afterward we will host a reception in his honor in the Life Center. All are invited to spend some time with him and to express our gratitude to him. He will be missed!
When you come before the Lord this week please pray for our Priests and Religious Sisters, that we can be strengthened each day to respond to God’s call to service in the Church. Know that we will pray for you, your loved ones and your intentions. May you be blessed with many moments of grace in the week ahead and may we meet each day in our prayers!
In Christ,
Very Rev. Stephen D. Parkes, V.F.
Pastor
