March 20, 2011
A Word from Fr. Hilary…

By the grace of God, we had a powerful parish mission that
first week of Lent, one that was very well received by a host of

parishioners.  It was wonderful to see so many people
participating and sharing themselves in it each day of the
mission.  The Sacrament of the

Anointing
was administered at

all of the Masses over the weekend. The “Mission at the Well”
on Monday evening and the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Tuesday were all moments of grace and gratitude.  Thank you

on
for responding to the Voice of the Lord
in
your hearts.

At the parish’s weekend Liturgies 84 people were anointed
on their foreheads and also on the palm of each hand.  The priest said to each

with the sacred holy oil

person:  “Through this holy anointing, may the Lord in His love and mercy, help
with the grace of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  May the Lord who frees you from sin, save you

you

and raise you up.  Amen.”
witness of faith for each person who received it, as it was for each person who
witnessed it.  

A simple and touching ceremony that was as beautiful a

The “Mission at the Well”
Watch Ministries. Deacon John Davis

was developed after many long hours of work by Fourth
and, Dan and Anne Ashe
from Sacred Heart

parish in Chestertown directed the mission.  Saying that it took us by surprise… is
only putting it mildly. The general consensus of the parishioners was that it was
completely unlike any other mission any of us had ever been involved with.

Prayerful,

exciting, enthusiastic, reverent, peaceful, emotional, passionate, fervent, animated,
authentic and spiritual. Deacon John, Dan and Anne thank you so much for bringing us
closer to Jesus that night.      

Tuesday was our final night of the mission.  The Sacrament of Reconciliation was
administered by four visiting priests –
Market, Fr. Bill Lawler

retired Fr. Anthony Greco
from East New

from St. Mary Refuge of Sinners in Cambridge, Fr. Michael Mc
from St. John the Evangelist in Milford DE, Fr. John Olsen

Dermott
Paul in Easton, and myself.  After a brief penance service
included hymns, Scripture readings and psalms, we were hearing confessions for

from Sts. Peter and
in the Church which

over an hour and a half.  God’s grace was at work in people’s hearts!

I take this opportunity to thank everyone involved… everyone who participated…
everyone who contributed to organizing and making everything run so smoothly.  

God bless you all. Friends, I really believe in my heart that as long as our parish
family continues to put God first in our lives, we can’t help but receive the abundance

of God’s blessings in our lives.  Stay close to HIM.

Live Jesus in our hearts! Forever!
Fr. Hilary