Dear friends and parishioners,
We are celebrating Mass for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception at 6:00pm this evening. Today is a holy day of obligation, so please plan accordingly.
A Beautiful Moment in the History of St. Philip's
On Dec. 7, 2019, our parish was consecrated to the Blessed Virgin in a beautiful ceremony. Seminarians from the Archdiocese of Washington joined us in a Marian procession. Our Sodality and the Daughters of St. Anne participated, reminding us of their dedication and love for our Lady. We prayed the Litany of Loretto, a rosary, and sang hymns of devotion to our Blessed Mother. Over the last three years, she has blessed us in so many ways - drawing us to a deeper relationship with her Son.
Here is a link to photos from that consecration:
I invite you to join me in renewing our consecration. I will copy the prayer at the bottom of the note. We come to our Blessed Mother in thanksgiving, once again honoring our consecration to her and offering ourselves to her once again.
Please join me in renewing the consecration by reciting the prayer below.
In Mary Immaculate,
Fr. Lewis
Prayer of Consecration to Mary Our Queen
Most Holy Trinity, Our Father in Heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as your spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as your Mother, we adore your majesty and acknowledge your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.
Most Holy Trinity, we place St. Philip the Apostle Parish and School into the hands of Mary Immaculate, our Queen and our Mother, in order that she may present St. Philip’s to you. Through her we beg you to shower graces upon St. Philip the Apostle Parish and School. Grant us the graces of contrition, healing, and holiness. Bless us with an abundance of what we will need to serve you, to serve our neighbors, and to spread the Gospel. Increase within us your grace, that our souls might greatly resemble the perfection and purity of our Blessed Mother.
Mary, Immaculate Virgin, patroness of our land, we honor you and consecrate St. Philip the Apostle Parish and School, and ourselves, to your Immaculate Heart. Save us from temptation, presumption, and despair. Preserve us from all harm. Remain always our Mother and our Queen.
Pray for us that like you, we might always persevere in fidelity to the will of your divine Son. Pray and watch over us, that we may live and die pleasing to God. Amen.