Parish Schedule & Notes For The New Year
The Epiphany of the Lord
Saturday, January 4, 4:30pm and Sunday, January 5, 8:00am & 10:00am
The Baptism of the Lord
Saturday, January 11, 4:30pm and Sunday, January 12, 8:00am & 10:00am
Epiphany Chalk Blessing
As a celebration of the Epiphany, at all Masses on the weekend of January 4 & 5, we will bless the doors of our church & offer chalk for parishioners to take home to bless their own doors. Having prayers or blessings on our doors is a tradition handed down from our Jewish ancestors; it is a way of praying for the protection of all who enter the home and a way to keep God at the forefront of our minds. We invite you to take some chalk with you for Epiphany to bless your homes.
And send us your photos! We would love to fill our social media with images of parishioners blessing their homes for the New Year.
125th Anniversary Celebration Year Continues
As we move into 2025, we will continue to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the parish. We began this yearlong celebration starting in July of 2024, through the Christmas holiday – the first Mass was held on Christmas Day in 1899, and continuing through June 2025 to honor this anniversary. We will continue bringing former pastors back as guest presiders – on January 5, Fr. Matthew O’Toole will be joining us to preside over the 10 AM Sunday Mass Fr. Matthew O’Toole was set to preside and preach early in January as part of our Quasquicentennial celebrations, but due to weather and other calendar conflicts, Fr. O’Toole will be rescheduled on another future Sunday, to be determined.
Also, as part of our anniversary celebration, we will make merry with a special Organ Recital called Journey Into Light, on Tuesday, January 7 at 7:30pm in Church – featuring renowned organist, David Sinden, from St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Ladue. (This concert was originally scheduled for the afternoon of January 5, but due to the forecasted winter storm, it has been rescheduled to this new date.)
Taking Down Church Christmas Decorations
On Sunday, January 12, immediately following the 10 AM Mass, please join our parish family in removing all of the Christmas decorations from Church. As with the decorating, all hands are needed – big or small. We appreciate in advance your help in returning our Church to its usual beauty. Thank you!
Winter Wellness
As we enter the winter season, please do your part to keep yourself and one another healthy against the flu, winter colds, and Covid. Though the pandemic has waned, we must always be vigilant for the health of our community. If you are ill, please stay home and take care of yourself. You may consider wearing a mask indoors if you are ill or immunocompromised. Wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer. A limited supply of hand sanitizer will be in the back of Church; if you need a mask, ask a hospitality minister. Please use common sense and good judgment during these winter months!
On The Horizon
OFFICES CLOSED
The Parish Office and School will be closed for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday, January 20. Both will reopen on Tuesday, January 21. If you have parish or school business, please take care of that once the offices reopen on the 21st.
BULLETIN SUBMISSION DEADLINES
Due to Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the bulletin article submission schedule is as follows:
Weekend of January 25-26 articles are due on Friday, January 17 by 2:00 p.m.
Questions? Please contact Michael Sonntag at parishnews@stmargaretstl.org or call 314-776-0363.