New Chaplain—Fr. James Smith, FSSP
Our new chaplain, Fr. James Smith’s first Sunday with us will be August 8th. Fr. Smith is coming from St. Francis DeSales Catholic Church in Atlanta, GA, where he was the assistant pastor. He looks forward to meeting everyone at the parish picnic.
No Confessions—August 1
There will be no confessions offered today.
First Friday Devotion
This Friday, August 6, we will have our First Friday Devotion following the 6:30pm Mass. We will pray a novena and a Litany to the Sacred Heart of Jesus followed by Sung Compline.
Feast of St. Lawrence
Sung Mass for Paternal Feast
Next Sunday, August 8th, the 11am Mass will be a Sung Mass for the external solemnity of the Feast of St. Lawrence.
Mater Dei Parish Picnic
Next Sunday, August 8th, following the morning Masses, we will have the annual parish picnic at Roof Park (599 Lewisberry Rd, New Cumberland, PA 17070). Volunteer sign up sheets are in the back of the church.
Catechism Class Registration
Registration day for this year’s Sunday Catechism program will be Sunday, September 12. Children making their First Holy Communion or 6th/7th graders preparing for Confirmation must be enrolled in the Sunday Catechism program, even homeschoolers. Information on the classes offered can be found on the back of the bulletin.
Mass Obligation Reinstated
Bishop Gainer has announced the restoration of the Sunday and Holy Day Mass obligation, effective August 15, 2021.
Bishop Mass—August 14
On Saturday, August 14 at 9am, Bishop Ronald Gainer will be offering a Solemn Pontifical High Mass for the Vigil of the Assumption. At this Mass, hermit Sr. Mary Catherine will be renewing her vows for the 30th anniversary of her consecration as a hermit.
Young Adult Group Brunch
For any young adults (18-35) interested, the Mater Dei Young Adult Group is now meeting on the first Sunday of each month (today) for brunch at the Squeaky Rail Diner (505 N Enola Rd, Enola, PA 17025) around 12:30pm (after the 11:00am Mass).
The Confraternity of St. Peter
The Confraternity of St. Peter is a group established to support the FSSP and its charism through prayers and sacrifices. The people in this group pray a decade of the Rosary and special Confraternity prayer every day, and also have one Mass per year said for supporting vocations, the sanctification of priests and their pastoral endeavors. If you are interested in joining this Confraternity, you can find more information here: https://fssp.com/confraternity-of-saint-peter/.
The new Sunday Mass schedule is as follows:
The Sunday Catechism classes will be from 10:15-10:45 during the academic year. Thank you for your patience through these many adjustments to the Sunday schedule!
Mater Dei Catechism Program Class Offerings 2021-2022
Registration Day—Sept 12
FIRST COMMUNION CLASS (2nd Grade)
All children making their 1st Communions must be a part of this class, even those who homeschool. There will be two exams with a priest in the spring—one before First Confessions and one before First Communion. More information will be provided at the parent meeting on September 26th.
POST COMMUNION CLASS (3rd-4th Grade)
This class is intended for those children who have recently made their First Communion. The material will be geared towards 7 & 8-year-old children. The textbook is the Baltimore Catechism 1.
HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS CLASS (5th-6th Grade)
This class is geared towards 9 & 10-year-old children. The book that is being used is entitled Know Your Mass, by Father Manousos and Father Burbank.
CONFIRMATION CLASS (6th-7th Grade)
This class is intended for those children currently in grades 6 & 7. The book that is being used is entitled Baltimore Catechism III by Seton Press. Confirmation only takes place every other year, and will take place in the Spring/Summer of 2023. All children who will be making their Confirmation must be a part of this class for both years, even those who homeschool.