Apostolic societies
Blessed Virgin Mary parish offers several societies and organizations to nurture both the spiritual and Catholic social life of parishioners.
Holy Name Society
The purpose of the BVM HNS organization is to preserve the honor of the Holy Name. The HNS will also encourage members to lead a life in which they implement the principles of a good Catholic life in themselves, and in those under their charge. Also, the HNS will encourage and execute works of charity within and without the parish community. There are some practical church related duties of the BVM HNS which are listed in our Bylaws.
Membership is open to all men of the church, who are at least 18 years of age and who are able to uphold the obligations. The HNS calendar year begins on Holy Name Sunday in January.
There are Religious, General, and Specific Obligations for all members of BVM HNS. These Obligations are detailed in Articles of our bylaws, under Religious, General, and Specific. These Obligations are meant to provide a framework or basis for actions by the members to achieve the purpose of the BVM HNS. The obligations in general are not binding under pain of sin, unless the obligation is already binding under pain of sin for all Catholics. Instead, the obligations are freely taken on by the members as prudent and reasonable to accomplish the purposes of the HNS.
The Holy Name Society will sit together at the High Mass on the second Sunday of each month, receive communion together and recite the pledge after Mass. If any man over the age of 18 and, having graduated high school, is interested in being enrolled in the Holy Name Society, please contact Jon Roppel at [email protected] or Father Boyle at [email protected].
Eucharistic Crusaders
By allowing young children to approach the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist at the age of reason, St. Pius X powerfully encouraged children to strive to holiness. Thus he originated a great movement of popular piety among youth which was created in 1914 by a Belgian priest, Fr. Edouard Poppe (1890-1924). The Eucharistic Crusade was launched again by the seminarians in Econe in the 1980’s.
On August 8, 1910, in the decree Quam Singulari, Pope St. Pius X authorized the admission of children to Holy Communion starting at the age of reason.
"The age of discretion, both for confession and for Holy Communion, is the time when a child begins to reason, that is about the 7th year, more or less. From that time on begins the obligation of fulfilling the precept of both Confession and Communion.”
St. Pius X recalled on that occasion the obligation of those who are responsible for children to make sure that the latter frequently approach the holy altar.
This decree was the origin of the Eucharistic Crusade. Indeed, by allowing young children to approach the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist at the age of reason, St. Pius X powerfully encouraged children to strive to holiness. Thus he originated a great movement of popular piety among youth. The Eucharistic Crusade was one of the finest fruits of this movement. The Eucharistic Crusade came into being in 1914, founded by a Belgian priest, Fr. Edouard Poppe (1890-1924) to promote Eucharistic devotion among children. Its motto nicely summarizes the desire to encourage young people to strive for genuine sanctity: “Pray, receive communion, make sacrifices, be an apostle."
The Crusade is made up of three spiritual ranks:
- Page
- Crusader
- Knight
The Crusader’s motto is entirely contained in these four imperatives: pray, receive communion, make sacrifices, be an apostle. Every month the Crusade offers its prayers, Holy Communions, work and sacrifices for one of the major intentions of the Church determined by Bishop Fellay, the Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X. Today the Eucharistic Crusade is an apostolate of the Society of St. Pius X that has spread to priories in almost all parts of the world. Please contact Dave Babson at [email protected] for more information.
Altar and Rosary Society
The purpose of the ARS is to assist & support the parish, using the Blessed Mother's example in fulfilling duties in the service of God, & to keep alive the common bond of our Catholic faith. The practical duties include but are not limited to:
- Care of the Altar, including linens, vestments & flowers.
- Church Cleaning
- Meal Organizing for events, new mothers, funerals etc.
- Visiting the sick & home-bound
Meetings are held the 3rd Thursday of each month, following Benediction. (Unless otherwise notified). For more information contact Mrs. Diane Stout ([email protected])
St. Stephen's Guild
The Guild aims through a three-fold object to sanctify the altar server by:
- teaching him that to serve in the sanctuary is a great religious privilege,
- instructing him how to observe the rites and ceremonies according to the Church,
- encouraging him to understand the significance and purpose of the ceremonies in which he serves.
- Many indulgences have been given by St. Pius X for the members of the Guild.
For more information, please contact the Chaplain, Fr. Phillip DeLallo ([email protected])
Third Order of St. Pius X
The Third Order is the fifth family of the Society of Saint Pius X. The first family is the priests and seminarians, the second is the Sisters of the Society of Saint Pius X, the third is the brothers, the fourth is the Oblate Sisters. It is an “Order set up to secure for souls living in the world a school of sanctity.“ The purpose of the Third Order is therefore the sanctification of its members and their dependants. Like the old traditional Third Orders (Carmelite, Dominican, Franciscan...), the Third Order of the Society of Saint Pius X is a state of life midway between the cloister and the world, or to put it in different words, a religious Order which will penetrate into Christian homes in the midst of the world. It is centered on the devotion to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, which is nothing else than the Sacrifice of the Cross renewed on the altar in an unbloody manner. The members of the Third Order unite themselves to Our Lord, the Divine Victim, offering Himself up out of love for His Father and for souls. In this they find the strength that they need on the difficult path to holiness. Devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows, to Saint Joseph, and to Saint Pius X are also present in the soul of the member of the Third Order. Please contact the Third Order Chaplain, Fr. Richard Boyle Fr. Richard Boyle ([email protected])
Millitia Immaculatae
The Militia of the Immaculata (MI),or the Knights of Mary according to St. Maximilian Kolbe, is a worldwide evangelization movement founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe in 1917 that encourages total consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary as a means of spiritual renewal for individuals and society. The MI movement is open to all Catholics over 7 years old. It employs prayer as the main tool in the spiritual battle with evil. Members of the MI also immerse themselves in apostolic initiatives throughout society, either individually or in groups, to deepen and spread the knowledge of the Gospel and our Catholic Faith. Please contact the Chaplain, Fr. Richard Boyle ([email protected])