The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception will be celebrated on Monday, December 8th. There will be 8 AM & 6 PM Mass that day. Read below for more information on this special Solemnity.
Pastor's Note: Sunday, December 8th, 2025
Dear Parishioners,
Each year on December 8, the Church celebrates the beautiful Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. It is one of our most cherished Marian feast days and a holy day of obligation for all Catholics.
A priest friend of mine who serves at a parish with a parochial school has a custom for his 8th graders before they graduate. He tells them, “Before any of you can graduate, you must first tell me what we celebrate on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.” It’s a kind of final exam. If they answer correctly, they get to move on to high school. If they answer incorrectly, they are notified that they must repeat kindergarten through 8th grade. It’s both a teaching moment about the importance of knowing our faith and, perhaps, an enrollment booster for the school.
Joking aside, this great celebration is often misunderstood. The Immaculate Conception does not refer to the conception of Jesus, but to the moment the Blessed Virgin Mary herself was conceived in the womb of her mother, St. Anne. In the prayers at Mass today, we will hear Mary described as being preserved from every stain of sin and prepared as a worthy dwelling place for Christ.
Celebrating the Immaculate Conception reminds us that God’s plan for salvation is thoughtful, intentional, and overflowing with mercy. Mary’s sinless beginning prepares the way for Jesus, the Light of the World, whose birth we will soon celebrate at Christmas. As we honor Mary on this solemnity, may we ask her intercession that our hearts, too, be made ready to welcome Christ more fully.
Please join us for Mass on Monday at 8:00 AM or 6:00 PM as we celebrate this holy day of obligation, giving thanks for the gift of our Immaculate Mother.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Bill Duffert