By Katya Fitzpatrick
Faithful from all five Carbon County parishes gathered Sep. 7 at SS. Peter and Paul, Lehighton, to celebrate Mass and participate in a consecration renewal to Mary Immaculate.
Father Christopher Zelonis, Pastor of SS. Peter and Paul, was celebrant of the evening Mass.
Concelebrating were: Monsignor John Chizmar, Pastor of St. Peter the Fisherman, Lake Harmony, and Vicar Forane of the Carbon Deanery; Father Michael Mullins, Pastor of Sacred Heart, Palmerton; Father Robert George, Pastor of St. Joseph, Summit Hill; Father Ronald Minner, Pastor of Immaculate Conception, Jim Thorpe; and Father Philip Rodgers, Pastor of St. Patrick, Pottsville (Schuylkill County).
Assisting were Deacons Joseph Wilhelm of SS. Peter and Paul and John Mroz of Immaculate Conception.
The event wrapped up SS. Peter and Paul’s annual 40 Hours Devotion, which started Sept. 5. Evening Adoration each day ended with Solemn Vespers and a homily by former SS. Peter and Paul Pastor Father Rodgers, and on one occasion, the Angelorum Choir provided sacred music.
Father Rodgers’ message was "to look at the Eucharist in a new and different way. To discover, preserve, and inspire. Once we discover something we truly cherish, we want to hold on to it. We want to hold fast. We want to preserve. How are we called to preserve the gift given to us? 'Do this in memory of Me.' Inspire."
“Jesus inspires us by His very life, death, and resurrection. He inspires us to a new way of living. [The Eucharist] inspires us to come to see Jesus. And then to understand the gift He has prepared for each and every one of us. Mary helps with that a great deal, in leading us to Jesus in inspiring us to embrace His Sacred Heart and stand before Him, a humble servant."
"This is a great event," said Monsignor Chizmar before reading the Act of Consecration to Mary Immaculate. "We constantly want to keep all of the faithful very consciously aware of Mary's role in our life and in our Church."
After Mass and the Act of Consecration, the faithful gathered at the school hall to enjoy cake in honor of the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Photo: Pastors from all five Carbon County Parish renew consecration to Mary Immaculate at SS. Peter and Paul, Lehighton.
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