December 1, 2022
A MESSAGE FROM FATHER ANTHONY WROBLEWSKI
One of my brother priests, Fr. Joseph Sirba, pastor of the parishes in Hinckley and Sandstone, recently wrote this bulletin article. I found it fascinating and informative. It certainly challenges some of the assumptions that secular society have taken as facts. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
The Date of Christmas: Opponents of Christianity (and there are many these days) enjoy telling us that the actual birthday of Jesus Christ is unknown. They say that December 25th was picked as the date to celebrate Christmas not because Christ was born on that day, but rather to provide a Christian alternative to the pagan celebrations and festivals centered around the winter solstice. If true, then the failure to pay attention to historical facts undermines the Church’s credibility. “You know [modern critics say smugly], Jesus wasn’t really born on Christmas.” If true, it also strengthens arguments that Christian celebrations are really more or less just outgrowths of pagan feasts and rituals. So when was Jesus Christ born? Is there really something to December 25th or was that date just pulled out of thin air?
Here are the facts: The Roman feast of the Birth of the Unconquered Sun (in Latin, “Dies Natalis Solis Invicti”) was established by the Emperor Aurelian in 274 A.D. and celebrated at the winter solstice – the shortest day of the year (usually December 21st in the Northern Hemisphere). However, the 3rd Century martyr, Saint Hippolytus (170 – 235) wrote in his commentary on Daniel that Christ was born “eight days before the Calends of January” which would have been December 24th or 25th. Saint Hippolytus wrote his commentary on Daniel sometime between 204 and 211 A.D., at least 60 years before the Romans established their feast of the Unconquered Sun. There is also a very ancient tradition that Jesus was crucified on the same date that He became incarnate. Tertullian (155 – 240), another ancient Christian writer, wrote in Adversus Judaeos that Christ suffered “in the month of March, at the time of the Passover, on the eighth day before the Calends of April.” That day would have been March 25th. If that was also the day of the Incarnation, it explains why the early Church set the date for Christmas nine months later on December 25th. Other ancient writers, some of whom predate the feast of the Unconquered Sun also state that Jesus was conceived on March 25th. They include Sextus Julius Africanus (c. 160 – c. 240) who gave March 25th as the day of creation and of the conception of Jesus and the author of the tract De solstitia et aequinoctia conceptionis et nativitatis Domini nostri Iesu Christi et Iohannis Baptistae who also states that Jesus was conceived and crucified on the same day of the year and who calculated this date as March 25th. So, the date of Christmas was set not to counteract the pagan festival of the Unconquered Sun. Rather, the date of Christmas was set on December 25th because, according to the most ancient Church traditions, that was the day on which Christ was born.
In Christ & Mary Immaculate,
Father Tony
CALENDAR NOTES
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation, is next Thursday, December 8. Mass will be celebrated at 8 AM and 6 PM at the Cathedral and 12:10 PM at St. Mary Star of the Sea. There is no 7 AM Cathedral Mass on the 8th. There will also be a Vigil Mass at St. Mary Star of the Sea at 6 PM on Wednesday, December 7.
CATHEDRAL CHATS- SAINT ANDREW
PARISH GIVING TREES
Cathedral: Our Giving Trees are decorated with ornaments! Please take an ornament or two to support this wonderful project. One tree's ornaments are for the Women's Care Center and the other tree's ornaments are for Life House, CHUM Families in Transition, McCarthy Manor, Residential Services of NE Minnesota, Franciscan Health Center, Hilltop Heathcare Center, Benedictine Health Care Center, Bayshore Residence, and Lakeside Manor. Gifts for the Women’s Care Center should not be wrapped, but all gifts from the second tree should be wrapped and returned to the church with the tag attached. Please drop off all gifts by 6pm Saturday, December 10th. Gifts will be delivered on Sunday, December 11th.
St. Mary Star of the Sea: Please take an ornament or two from the tree in the back for the Women's Care Center. Gifts for the Women’s Care Center should not be wrapped. Please drop off all gifts by 5 pm Saturday, December 10th. Gifts will be delivered on Sunday, December 11th. There is also an opportunity to give to the food tree which will be on the side entrance to give to our neighbors in need that need a little extra assistance this Christmas season. Envelopes will be marked Food Tree on them.
If you can help deliver gifts, please call Jennifer at 218-722-6928. Volunteers are needed from both parishes!
Your generosity is greatly appreciated!
HAPPENINGS AT ST. MARY STAR OF THE SEA!
Church Cleaning: All are invited to finish cleaning your church and get it ready for the Christmas season. There are tasks for all ages. Please join us on Saturday, December 3th at 9:30 am. We'll meet in the Sacristy to go over cleaning tasks, supply locations, etc. We hope to be done in a couple hours. Donuts will be provided. Contact Renee Zurn at 218-723-1321 if you have questions.
The Holy Rosary Society will be meeting Saturday, Dec. 3 at 1:30 pm in the Social Hall. The meeting starts with prayer and then continues with the official meeting. All women are invited to attend, either for prayer or for the full meeting. The meeting will conclude at 3:30 pm.
Pancake Breakfast Sun. Dec. 4th from 9:00 am to Noon. The cost is $8.00 Adults and $4.00 children 10 and under. Pancakes are the best in town and gluten free is available! Volunteers are needed, we have a lot of fun. Our Parish Nurse Nancy Turchi will be available for blood pressure checks and general medical questions.
ST. MARY STAR OF THE SEA CHRISTMAS FLOWERS
Help make the. St. Mary Star of the Sea altar beautiful for Christmas and order your poinsettias. The deadline is on December 12.
EAST DULUTH CATHOLIC FAITH FORMATION
As we enter into the second week of Advent, we continue preparing our homes, families and most importantly ourselves for the birth of Christ. But this week is extra special because we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. By celebrating the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, we celebrate God choosing Mary to be Jesus’ mother, conceived without original sin and given the grace to say yes to God.
In the Gospel reading for the Solemnity, we hear the story of the Annunciation. The angel Gabriel appearing to Mary and greeting her by saying, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” Mary is troubled by this greeting, but the angel Gabriel assures her not to be troubled. She has found favor with God and will bear a son. Mary then asks the angel Gabriel how this could be if she has no relations with a man. As we know, Mary is then told that she will conceive through the power of the Holy Spirit and is offered a sign in the miraculous pregnancy of her barren cousin Elizabeth.
Mary's response to this seemingly impossible message from the angel Gabriel, gives evidence to the grace we know that she possesses from God. Only one who is “full of grace” could be so receptive to and cooperative with the will of God. That is why we honor Mary, the one chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus, as the model of discipleship for all Christians.
To be chosen by God for a particular task is an amazing thing. Each of us is chosen by God, like Mary, in important ways. Each of us is given gifts and talents by God to share with the world. One of the tremendous responsibilities as adults, parents, family members and mentors is to help the children in our lives determine the gifts and talents they have, and how to share them with others to serve God. Take a moment this Advent, to call upon Mary's humble response to God. Pray that your family, your friends, and yourself will be more like Mary. Responding to God with a resounding yes, and use the gifts and talents he has given you to serve God and others.
Our East Duluth Faith Formation program would like to invite you all to a night of Adoration and Confession, Wednesday, December 7th at the Cathedral from 7 – 8 PM.
-Sonya Morris, Director & K-5 Coordinator
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
The Knights of Columbus will be selling "Keep Christ In Christmas" cards after all Cathedral and St. Mary Star of the Sea Masses the weekend of December 3 and 4.
Be sure to plan for the purchase of these beautiful cards!
Be sure to plan for the purchase of these beautiful cards!
The Knights of Columbus Monsignor O’Shea Council invites all Catholic men to take the exciting step to join the Knights of Columbus and to participate in charitable service to our parishes and communities. Visit kofc.org/joinus today or call Bob Spehar 218-349-5051
LITURGICAL MINISTERS
Sign up for Christmas Masses and Mary, Mother of God. Please sign up for December Masses at the Cathedral below.
If you are interested in becoming a Liturgical Minister, please contact Greg at greg.jung@duluthcatholic.org
GIFT BEARERS-INCLUDING CHRISTMAS
We are bringing up the gifts of bread and wine during weekend Masses. We still have many openings and are inviting all parishioners to prayerfully consider signing up! Look for the sign up at duluthcathedral.com/liturgical-ministries or in the weekly newsletter or call Greg at 218-623-5013. Families, couples and single people are all invited to participate!
STELLA MARIS ACADEMY
Did you attend Catholic school in the Duluth area? As a Duluth Area Catholic School alum, you have a home at Stella Maris Academy! Please use the link below to take a moment to fill out a survey and share your story with us so we can continue to honor this extraordinary legacy. By doing so, you will enlighten the history pages and also help us connect generations of alumni! Please visit www.stellamaris.academy/alumni to share your story!
HOLY INNOCENTS ADORATION CHAPEL- REOPENING UPDATE
The Holy Innocents Adoration Chapel at St. Mary Star of the Sea will be reopening soon. It will be open continuously from Sundays at 5 PM until Thursdays at 9 PM. A decision has been made to postpone the opening until we have 85% of the times filled. When 85% of the time slots have been filled an announcement will be made of the opening date.
If you are willing to become a regular or substitute adorer, please sign up using our new AdorationPro software or call the St. Mary Star of the Sea office at 218-722-3078. Don't hesitate to talk to your family and friends about the Chapel!
Please pray for a speedy re-opening and click the button below to sign up!
The St. Vincent de Paul Society is the largest lay Catholic organization in the world. SVdP is well known for its personal visits to the homes of neighbors in need. The Cathedral & St. Mary Star of the Sea conference meets regularly to grow in holiness and help our neighbors in need including rental deposit and car repairs. We welcome new members. Join us on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at 6pm in the Cathedral Multipurpose Room. Prayers and financial support are always appreciated. For more information email svdpduluthmn@gmail.com.
UPCOMING LOCAL PARISH EVENTS!
St. Michael’s Christmas Tree & Wreath Sales:
4901 E Superior St. Duluth. Christmas Tree sales begin on Friday, Nov. 25th from 9:30 am to 5 pm . This is St. Michael's thirty-fifth year of selling trees. High quality Spruce, Balsam Fir, Norway Pine and White Pine trees, along with Christmas wreaths and sprays are available. Weekdays 10:00 am (self-serve) with helpers in the evenings starting at 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm, Saturday 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, Sundays 11:00 to 5:00 pm. All net proceeds go to help with parish buildings and grounds maintenance needs.
4901 E Superior St. Duluth. Christmas Tree sales begin on Friday, Nov. 25th from 9:30 am to 5 pm . This is St. Michael's thirty-fifth year of selling trees. High quality Spruce, Balsam Fir, Norway Pine and White Pine trees, along with Christmas wreaths and sprays are available. Weekdays 10:00 am (self-serve) with helpers in the evenings starting at 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm, Saturday 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, Sundays 11:00 to 5:00 pm. All net proceeds go to help with parish buildings and grounds maintenance needs.
Advent Retreat: Searching for and Maintaining Peace: Saturday, December 3 from 8 am—2:30 pm, 8am registration, 8:30am Mass. Do you long for the peace Jesus offers in the midst of the world’s confusion and chaos? An Advent retreat on the importance of interior peace in the spiritual life will be offered at St. Benedict Church in Duluth. The retreat will be based around Father Jacques Philippe’s book Searching for and Maintaining Peace. The cost is $15; breakfast and lunch will be provided. You can register on our website, stbensduluth.org, or by calling the St. Ben’s office: 218-724-4828.
2022 Cookie Stroll at St. Francis Xavier in Superior: On Saturday, December 10 cookies will be sold at $8/lb from 9 AM until cookies are gone! Candy and bread priced separately.
