Category Archives: Mass

Back to Normal

Today when Bill got up, he told me he was feeling much better.  That makes me wonder how badly he felt yesterday because he didn’t complain much at all. He has the ability to put aside any physical needs or discomfort and press on due to the training he had in both medical school and […]

The Current View

Bishop Siegel celebrated the opening Mass at Memorial.  This rite has changed a lot since the pandemic started.  Actually, Mass is the same but it’s the way we attend and participate in Mass that has changed. In the past, school Mass was a close contact gathering.  Yesterday only the seniors attended in person while the […]

Sinking In

Today I walked into church for my weekly adoration hour and things felt fairly normal.  When I walked out, this sign was posted on the grass in front of church. The effects and gravity of the Covid pandemic are starting to sink in. 

Washington DC 2019 | Day Two

Sunday, September 22, 2019 The students awoke bright and early and after breakfast at the hotel, they boarded the bus.  The first destination of the day was the National Zoo.  The tour director always anticipates the unspoken question about why they visit the zoo when there is so much (more) to do in Washington DC.  […]

The White Mass

St. John the Baptist celebrated the White Mass tonight.   A White Mass was traditionally celebrated on the Feast of Saint Luke (the patron saint of physicians) in hospitals, chapels, parish churches, cathedrals and everywhere physicians routinely gathered with their chaplains.  It was named as such for the white coats of the physicians but the Mass […]

Washington DC 2016 | Day Two

Sunday, September 25, 2016 Even though the students arrived late last night to their hotel in Maryland, they were up and at it early today. They had continental breakfast in the hotel and boarded the bus.  They headed straight to the National Zoo.  Because it is free and open at 8 AM on a Sunday […]

Daily Service

Becoming an altar server is a wonderful rite of passage.  At St. John, incoming fifth graders are trained and then they serve a week’s worth of daily masses at 7 am.  In this way, they garner experience to serve at weekend masses starting in the sixth grade.  Father Tom is known for his sense of […]

Scout Mass

Today was the Scout Sunday at St. John’s parish.  After Mass, the scouts had an awards ceremony.  Walker helped plan it and then acted as the Master of Ceremonies as a requirement for one of his merit badges.  The Cub Scouts were awarded their Duty to God and Parvuli Dei Religious Emblems by Deacon Tony. […]

Mass Buddies

For the last few years, St. John’s has paired up older and younger students for Mass.  Fourth grade is the dividing line so for the first time, Mason is now the buddy to a younger classman.  It is Mason’s job to help his buddy reverently participate in Mass. Because Walker sings in the choir and […]

Making His Own Tracks

Because school was closed yesterday for the snow, the altar servers were excused from serving at daily Mass.  Since the roads had gotten a little attention and it was safe enough for us to travel the mile to church, he and I trekked out to 7 AM Mass.  The grounds and walkway were nearly undisturbed […]