a public announcement about a Plenary Indulgence, editing this special decree:

 

“PAENITENTIARIA APOSTOLICA DECRETUM”:

       On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the manifestation of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Grotto of Massabielle, near Lourdes, a plenary indulgence is awarded daily to the faithful who, from December 8, 2007, to December 8, 2008, visit, piously, and according to established conditions, the Grotto of Massabielle, and, from February 2-11 2008, to those who visit, in any temple, oratory, grotto, or decorous place, the blessed image of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes solemnly exposed to public veneration.

       So that growing fruits of renewed holiness derive from this pious memory, the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI has

determined to widely grant the gift of plenary indulgence, in the manner explained below:

       All and every single faithful, truly repented, and duly purified through the sacrament of Confession, and restored with Holy Communion, and also devoutly raising their prayers according to the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff, shall daily profit a plenary indulgence, also applicable, as suffrage, to the souls of the faithful in Purgatory:

A. - if, from the 8th of the month of December 2007 to the entire 8th day of the same month of the next year of 2008, devoutly visit, preferably in the proposed order: 1. - the parish baptistery used for the baptism of Bernadette; 2.- the house called "cachot" of the Soubirous family; 3.- the Grotto of Massabielle; 4.- the chapel of the hospice, where Bernadette made her First Communion, and, at every time, remain for a certain amount of time in pious meditation, concluding with the Lord's Prayer, and the Profession of Faith ;

B.-if, from February 2, 2008, on the Presentation of the Lord,  up to the complete day of February 11, 2008, in the liturgical memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes and the 150th anniversary of the Apparition, devoutly visit, in any temple, oratory, grotto, or decorous place, the blessed image of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes, solemnly exposed to public veneration, and take part before the same image in a pious exercise of Marian devotion, or at least remain for a certain amount of time in pious meditation, concluding with the Lord's Prayer, the Profession of Faith in any legitimate form, and a Marian invocation.

C.- The aged, the infirm, and all those who, for legitimate reason, cannot leave their house, may also achieve, in their own house or there where the impediment retains them, the plenary indulgence, if, in the days of February 2-11, 2008, with the rejection of every sin and the intention of fulfilling, as soon as possible, the three conditions, spiritually accomplish, with desire of heart a visit, (to the aforementioned places), recite the aforementioned prayers and offer the infirmities and discomforts of their lives faithfully to God through Mary.

INDULGENCES AND PURGATORY

       A plenary indulgence offers full pardon of the temporal punishment (suffering in this life or the next) due to sins already forgiven in confession.

       Purgatory is a kind of spiritual waiting room - for people who do not go directly to paradise or hell after death - to purify souls of residual sin before they enter

heaven.

HOW WILL WE  CELEBRATE the 150th  ANNIVERSARY OF THE APPARITIONS OF OUR LADY  IN OUR PARISH?

       One family of our parish donated money to build an outdoor shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes (grotto with statue of Our Lady) to honor this great occasion. We  started construction already on the parish grounds on Monday, January 14. Novena Masses will be celebrated for all the sick (family members, friends, parishioners & benefactors of our parish) before the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. A letter with special Forms for Novena Masses for the Sick will be sent to all our registered parishioners and extra copies will be placed in our church. Many people are ill with strange diseases; and we would like to pray for their intentions. Forms with names of your loved ones will be placed in front of the little statue of Our Lady of Lourdes in our church between February 2nd (beginning of the Novena)  and February 16th (dedication of the Shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes).

        Solemn dedication of this Shrine will take place in our church on February 16, 2008, by Archbishop Tadeush Kondrusevich of Minsk (former Archbishop of Moscow, Russia).A Program of this celebration will be printed in the next issue of the Parish Bulletin.

       Numbers of Holy Masses with the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick will be offered in our Parish during this Jubilee Year, especially February 11 and 16. 

       If some parishioners would like to participate in a Pilgrimage to Lourdes (June 2—18), and other Shrines of France, Spain and Portugal, please reserve this time; and contact, as soon as possible Fr Stanislaw Zak to receive more information and an itinerary.

       More devotional services will be celebrated during this Jubilee Year.

 THANK YOU

A heartfelt thank you to Brad O'Leary, Jack Sullivan, Marc Wyborny, Dan and Lily Mullen who put away safely our lovely Christmas Creche after the 12:30 Mass last Sunday, and put the statues back in the Sacred Heart chapel; and Ester Ussison who cleaned  the church.  We appreciate your willingness to give of your time to our parish. 

 

 PILGRIMAGES: (2008/2009)

1. June 2—18, 2008; to France, Spain & Portugal To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Bernardette Soubirous on February 11, 1858. The Jubilee Year officially opened on December 8th the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Every year, millions of the faithful and pilgrims from all over the world come to France to pray for cure and healing from their illnesses-- bodily and spiritual.

2. September 1—15, 2008; to THE HOLY LAND - ”In the footsteps of Jesus Christ.” We will really walk in the footsteps of Our Lord in the Land of His birth, where He lived for 33 years and died for our Salvation. Don’t miss this unforgettable experience.

3. February 9—23, 2009: to Brazil & Argentina

 

        If you would like to have more information about these  Pilgrimages — brochures  and Application Forms, please contact Father Stanislaw Zak as soon as possible; his telephone number is: 510-336-0698, or e-mail him:  stanzak7@yahoo.com