Greetings on this Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary! O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

The Organ is Coming Back
We recently hired Tony Gril to play the organ at the 8am and 9:45am Sunday Masses. He’s a very talented musician whose gifts will greatly enhance our worship of God. The organ is the preferred musical instrument in Catholic tradition. Its powerful timbre has long been associated with sacred music, as distinct from secular music.

St. Patrick’s Lorica (Breastplate)
We have recently recorded a recitation, with low music in the background, of this cherished prayer of the great missionary of Ireland, St. Patrick. You can listen to, download, and read the prayer here. I have recently been praying this as part of my morning prayer. I love its expression of faith, appreciation of the grandeur of creation, explicit petition to be united to and guided by God in every way, centering on Christ, and direct prayers against all dangers. Many exorcists recommend this prayer to defend against the wiles and snares of the enemy. Listening to this is a great way to start your day.

Built on Rock Update/ End of Year Gifts
We have exceeded our initial $4 million goal for our Built on Rock Capital Campaign which means that we are reasonably assured of the ability to build and pay for our Phase II Discipleship Center. We will continue the active part of the campaign until the end of the year. The more income we receive to the building fund, the sooner we will be able to complete the campus with the Phase III Parish Center, which will include a new hall, a Blessed Sacrament Chapel, new offices, and more. For all of you who have pledged, thank you again.

Many of you are considering making donations at the end of the year. Besides giving money directly, gifts can be made through stock transfers and in other ways. Some of these have substantial tax benefits. Please click here for more details about special gifts.

Donut Ministry
As previewed in my last blog post, OLMC is looking for volunteers to assist with the distribution of donuts after the 8am and 9:45am Masses. Service will start at the end of Mass and continue for about 30 minutes. Volunteers will serve with a partner once per month. Training and support are provided. This is a wonderful way to serve your brothers and sisters in Christ and to get to know them better. If you are willing to serve, please email olmcdonuts@gmail.com with your name, mobile number, and Mass time preference.