We know that Christ is truly present at the Holy Mass, but are we?

Do we have a tendency of entering the Church without truly entering into the liturgy?

You may have sat through a Holy Mass intuitively knowing that something deep is happening. And your intuition is correct! We encounter the living God!

We will take a look at the biblical roots of the liturgy and uncover the meaning of each part of the Holy Mass. We will look at what the Holy Mass really is and where it comes from.

Our prayerful hope is to offer you an educational, practical, and spiritual day of reflection. May the Holy Spirit increase in your hearts, the longing to worship God with all your being, in the true splendor of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Let us together journey this one day. He is our Hope, our Salvation, and our Glory to come!

Deacon Ward Nolan is a deacon from Diocese of Burlington, Vermont. Deacon Ward became a deacon in 2012 and has served the Mater Dei parish in Newport, Vermont, and is currently serving as parish associate for the St. Andre Bessette parish in Troy, Vermont. Deacon Ward worked for many years in finance at a local hospital and was administrator for a Catholic assisted living home for several years. He has served in the many aspects of parish life, especially in religious education: Family Formation, RCIA, and Mystagogy. Deacon Ward and his wife, Kathy, live in Newport, Vermont.

Jayne Badano-Bidwell lives in the Finger Lakes region of New York, and is a parishioner of St. Mary’s of the Lake in Watkins Glen. She spends the winter months in her hometown of Santa Rosa, CA, visiting her family and attends Holy Spirit Catholic Church while there. Throughout the years she has facilitated Endow study groups, has served as a Lector, was on the Healing Ministry team, helped with Family Faith Formation, has participated in Holy Mass at various nursing homes and is a member of the Adorers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus prayer group as well as Branches prayer group. She has begun training as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion to the Sick. One of her favorite things is writing prayer songs. She lives in Hector NY, with her husband Brian. They have 2 adult sons.

Fr. Jeffrey Tunniclif, pastor of St. Mary's of the Lake in Watkins Glen and St. Benedict's Church in Odessa, will celebrate Mass at 3 PM.

Schedule:

10 AM: Welcome and light breakfast foods

10:30  Session One

11:30  Quiet prayer time

Noon: Lunch

1:00 Session Two

2:00  Quiet prayer time

2:45  Closing questions/comments

3:00 Most Holy Mass

4:00 Departure

Branches is an outdoor facility.  Our pavilion provides shelter from light rain, but if the forecast states a storm with strong winds, we will engage a rain date on Friday, August 25th.  If the rain date is needed, you will receive a phone call during the afternoon on August 23rd.  Thank you.