Father Hathaway’s Column — April 28, 2024

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 94 CONFIRMANDI

Yesterday, Saturday, April 27, we were honored to havezHis Excellency, The Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, USA, here to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation on 94 students from The Basilica School of Saint Mary and our parish CCD program (see page 8 of this week’s bulletin).

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), the effect of the Sacrament of Confirmation “is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit” (CCC #1302) to fortify each confirmed person to stand as a strong witness in faith, grow in hope and reflect Christian charity to the world.

Congratulations to the students and all those who helped prepare them for this milestone. I especially thank their parents, family members and sponsors for their commitment to helping these children learn and live their Catholic faith. I am very grateful for the significant preparation that Maureen St. Pierre, Sara Bourassa, Robbie Granoski and Mariane Staron provided as teachers and catechists. Many thanks to Susan Gray, our Director of Religious Education, and Yunchong Boyle, Assistant Director of Religious Education, for their devoted work during the many months of confirmation preparation. May God bless everyone involved in this process!

SAINT JOSEPH THE WORKER – May 1

To foster deep devotion to Saint Joseph and to counter “May Day” celebrations for workers sponsored by the Communist Party, Pope Pius XII instituted the Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker on May 1, 1955. This year, the feast falls on Wednesday, May 1. Joseph actually has two feasts on the liturgical calendar: March 19, for Saint Joseph, the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and May 1, for Saint Joseph the Worker.

Joseph was an ordinary, humble man. He was a carpenter and builder who worked hard to support his family. His perseverance and trust in the message of an Angel are examples for all of us as we seek to follow God’s will. Joseph is the patron of many things, including the Universal Church, fathers, the dying and social justice. Like Saint Joseph, may we turn to Jesus and Mary each day as we, too, labor with love to serve our Lord.

Saint Joseph the Worker, pray for us!

 CEMETERY ACCESS & PARKING LOT LIGHTING

If you’ve visited our cemetery recently, you found the entrance gate on South Washington Street locked. Mysteriously, several popular GPS systems have been directing people to detour through the cemetery, especially when traffic is backed up on South Washington. To curb the flow of random vehicles through sacred cemetery space, the South Washington Street gate is now closed, except during burials following funerals. At other times, please use the entrance on South Royal Street, just past The Basilica School of Saint Mary. That gate is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Work is underway on a project to enhance the lighting in our South Fairfax Street and Wolfe Street parking lots. The illumination has been designed and approved by the City of Alexandria to prevent light from spilling past the lots, with minimal impact on surrounding homes. The improved lighting will provide added security for parishioners and visitors who use the lots when attending evening Masses or other parish activities, especially during the winter months when the suns sets earlier. Let there be light!