A Feast Day Mass and Reception on Thursday, February 1st at 5:30pm 

We hope you can join us for a special Mass and reception to follow on the feast day of Saint Bridget of Ireland, Patron Saint of our parish! Following Mass at 5:30pm on February 1st, there will be a reception with refreshments in the commons.

A Bit About Saint Bridget (source: Loyola Press)

"Saint Brigid is the patron saint of fire, healing, midwives, and childbirth. .... We celebrate her feast day on February 1st, which is known as Imbolc, one of the great fire festivals of the Irish.

As the shamrock became associated with Saint Patrick, a tiny cross made of rushes was linked with Saint Brigid. And they are made for her feast day traditionally throughout Ireland. One of my favorite poems celebrates this weaving as Brigid wove a cross by the bedside of a dying chieftain’s bed. Here’s how it goes:

Brigid wove a cross of rushes by a dying chieftain’s bed.
“Brigid, what’s that you’re making there in the rushes?” the chieftain said.

Brigid said, “It’s a cross I’m weaving, the cross where Jesus died.”
“Who was this Jesus?” asked the chieftain, “And why was this man crucified?”

So Brigid told the Gospel story to the dying pagan king.
Silently he listened, never saying anything.

Then he kissed the cross of rushes, saying, “Brigid, thanks to you,
I’ve come to love this Jesus. I will follow his way too!' "