I want to point out the weekday times for Confession here at Saint Rose. Not only do we have Confessions on Saturdays and Sundays -- actually twice each of those days; but we also have Confessions every day of the week! The weekday times are usually less busy and therefore perhaps better for a more relaxed time for Confession. On Mondays and Fridays, Confessions begin at 6 a.m.; and on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, Confessions begin at 5 p.m. I hope that these times are easy to remember. There is the added benefit with these weekday Confession times of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament going on at the same time! These really are times offering "pardon and peace" as the ritual for the sacrament proclaims!

We do many things in Saint Rose of Lima Parish. We do many things well. But we are not here to do things! We are here to proclaim Jesus Christ. In order to proclaim Him, we have to know Him. I encourage you to let Jesus ask you today: "Who do you say that I am?" Force yourself to answer Him directly. Look Jesus in the eye, and tell Him who He is. This was not easy for His disciples, but it is essential. Absolutely essential.

This expression is sometimes called the "golden mean," and it comes from the teachings of philosopher Aristotle. We need to remember that human virtue is found in the middle, especially in times of polarization when we are tempted to go to the extreme on one side or the other.

Always and for everything! In this case, I am particularly grateful to God for the relatively smooth opening to the school year. Running a school is a blessing and a responsibility for Saint Rose Parish. I believe that Sr. Catherine Marie and our school faculty and staff have done very well in looking after the welfare and education of the children in challenging circumstances. The school has been the testing ground at times for how we put various procedures into practice during the pandemic. They have done so once again for the opening of school. As promised, the Catholic Schools Office of the Diocese of Nashville has reviewed the mask policy announced for the beginning of the year and has adjusted it to allow for parents to decide about masks for their children. The situation at all of the diocesan schools will be monitored daily through a conference call of leaders from every school. I am sure that we can expect further adjustments as the needs dictate.

Unlike weddings and most other sacramental events, funerals usually need to be scheduled in a short timeframe. We try to be as flexible and accommodating as possible but there are limitations to the timing of funerals. This is why it is necessary to involve the church office before a funeral time is set or announced. In the first place, a funeral Mass cannot be celebrated on Sunday and a few other days of the year. The office staff know when funerals can be planned for the church. Special requests can also be made, although those requests might take more time. When you call the office, the staff can provide you with readings to choose from for the funeral, as well as guidance about arrangements for music. At Saint Rose, we are able to provide clergy for a funeral service only at the church and/or graveside. We cannot provide clergy for a funeral service at a funeral home or other location. We are happy to provide clergy for a vigil/rosary service before the funeral itself as we are able.

Weddings and funerals are not much alike, other than being important ceremonies celebrated in the church. Even on a practical level, weddings usually have a long time of planning and preparation leading up to the celebration whereas funerals need to be planned and finalized in a short time. If you are planning to get married, please contact the church office to set up an initial appointment at least six months in advance. This time is needed for your marriage preparation, as well as for scheduling the ceremony itself.

I want to take a break from explaining our sacrament schedule now that we have covered the new Mass, Confession, and Adoration schedules to point out some summer projects going on around the parish. One that I am particularly happy about is the "stained glass" window film in the Spiritual Library. It serves the practical purpose of shading the direct sunlight to reduce glare and heat, but the new window film is beautiful as well. There are images of the four evangelists depicted in a stained glass style. If you have not been in the Spiritual Library recently, take a look. I think it creates a great environment!

The next items on our parish calendar are for Confessions and Adoration. We have Confessions scheduled every day of the week! On Mondays and Fridays, Confessions are heard at 6 a.m. until 6:45 a.m. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, Confessions begin at 5 p.m. and extend until 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday and 5:45 p.m. (just before Mass) on Wednesday. These weekday Confession times are all accompanied with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. You can therefore come into church at these times to be with Jesus in Adoration and/or to make a good Confession. These times tend to be less crowded and therefore somewhat more relaxed.

According to the Second Vatican Council, Mass is the "source and summit" of our common life as Catholics. When we plan our schedule, we begin with Mass. Sunday Mass is the great duty to God in our lives, and we are under obligation to assist at Mass either Sunday or Saturday evening. To miss Sunday Mass is a grave sin, unless there are factors which would excuse one from attending, such as sickness or other incapacity. We need to take this obligation seriously. If we miss Sunday Mass or cause others (especially children) to do so, we need to go to confession before presenting ourselves for Holy Communion. It really is that serious. Have a plan for your time for Sunday Mass.