Father Michael's Column

Pastor’s Column for August 10th, 2025

This Friday we will be celebrating the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is such an important feast that even when it falls on a Sunday, it takes precedence over the usual Sunday celebration, and when it’s on a weekday other than a Saturday or Monday, it is a Holy Day of Obligation (meaning that all Catholics are obliged to attend Mass, just as they are on Sundays). 

The basic premise of the feast is that, since Mary was sinless, at the end of her life here on earth her body did not undergo corruption, which is seen as an effect of sin. Rather, the Church believes that, at the end of her life on earth, she was taken up to join her Son in heaven, and that her body was glorified, like his. Thus, she was “assumed” into heaven. The Dormitio (“Falling-asleep”, rather than death) of Mary came to be celebrated as early as the fifth century in the Eastern Church as well as in Rome. 

Another element, which I’m always fond of pointing out on any feast of Mary, is that Mary is the model of the Church. She is the model for wives, mothers, for all women, and most importantly, she is the model for all disciples. She always saw herself—though beloved—as the “Maidservant of the Lord”. Her life was at the service of His plan. That’s how all disciples should view themselves: as servants of the Lord. As He did Mary, God loves us, too, and wants the best for us. We, like Mary, can trust that, as we strive to do His will in all the little details of our lives, we can look forward to being happy with Him forever in heaven. That is actually His will for us, the ultimate fulfillment of His plan!

So, Mary is our model, and where she has led, we hope to follow. The Good News that we proclaim to the world is that, because Mary said “yes” to God’s plan to be the mother of Jesus, the eternal Son of God was able to become one of us. He then took on our sins, DIED, but conquered sin and death by rising from the dead in a glorified body. As the Church, as disciples, who have become one with Christ in Baptism and share the Bread of Life at Eucharist, we expect to also rise from the dead in a glorified body, to be with Jesus in heaven. Mary is the disciple par excellence, and she points the way for us, having already completed the journey. We try to model ourselves, sinful though we are, on the sinless Virgin, who always said “Yes” to God. 

The essence of sin is to say “no” to God—to choose our own way of doing things, rather than to choose God’s most loving plan for our lives. 

May we, more and more, reject sin in our lives and choose, like Mary, to say “YES!” to the full life and love that God wants for us.

In Jesus,

Fr. Michael



P.S. Masses on Friday are at 8 AM, Noon, and 7:30 PM. Decide now on which Mass you are going to attend, so that you can join with Mary, our model, in giving glory to God on this special day, the Feast of the Assumption!

In Jesus,

Fr. Michael