The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is usually on Dec. 8th every year.  However when a holy day falls on a Sunday of Advent, Christmas, Lent or Easter it is transferred to the following Monday.  Thus this year we will celebrate the Immaculate Conception on Monday, Dec. 9th as a Holy Day of Obligation. 

Monday, Dec. 9th is a Holy Day of Obligation.  Our Blessed Mother under her beautiful title as “Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception” is the patroness of the United States of America, and thus we keep this feast day as a Holy Day of Obligation.  All Catholics have the joyful obligation of participating in Mass for this great feast.
  Sunday, Dec. 8th        5:30pm as Second Sunday of Advent

Monday, Dec. 9th       6:30am +  8:15am (School Present)
                                       12:10pm + 5:30pm + 7:00pm 
                                       All Masses in the Church
                                       7:00pm en ESPAÑOL - in the Hall

This title honors Mary and celebrates that when she was conceived by her parents Anna & Joachim, she was conceived without original sin on her soul.  God the Father, in His infinite wisdom, knowing that she would never choose to sin in her life (even though she had the freedom to sin), He did for her the one thing she could not do for herself and kept from her the blemish of original sin.  Thus her body, heart, mind and soul became the perfect vessel to bring forth the Christ child. 

     This wonderful Feast also reminds us of the sanctity of human life from conception to forever.  I never say “to a natural end” as I cherish the lives of my parents & grandparents & all others even after their deaths.  I still cherish their lives and believe that they now live in eternal life; thus my respect for each life is eternal.
The gift that Mary received from God the Father also reminds us of our original sin, but the life she would lead and did lead is so important because it reminds us of our original innocence.  Mary gives us hope!