Current Announcements

This Wednesday, Feb 17, is Ash Wednesday and marks the beginning of the penitential season of Lent. 
Though not of obligation, one is encouraged to go to mass on this day and receive ashes as a sign of the commitment to do penance, so as to mortify our flesh and strengthen our immortal soul- "Remember O man that you are dust and unto dust you shall return."

We will have Mass at:

St. Agnes: 7am, 4pm, 515pm. One must sign up for these masses, as the chapel is still at 50% capacity. 

Resurrection, Fort Myers: 1:30pm. No need to sign up, given the large size of the main church. 

Ashes will blessed at the 7am mass and distributed at every mass that day. Ashes will be distributed on the top of one's head. This is the older traditional practice, which has always been the normative manner traditionally observed in Rome even to this day. Although it has become customary to mark them on one's forehead in the United States, the older practice of receiving them on the head is clearly an option in the traditional rite. As the Bishop has expressed his desire that, under the current precautions, they be distributed in this manner, throughout the diocese, we will do so as well as it is in accordance with our particular traditional liturgical laws. 

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence. For members of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 through age 59, inclusively. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals/snacks that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards. If one wishes to freely observe the older discipline in force in 1962 (and thus not currently obligatory), one may see those rules at https://materdeiparish.com/laws-days-abstinence-penance-fast/

Come accompany our Bishop, on Ash Wednesday, February 17, at 9:15am as we pray a rosary outside Planned Parenthood, 6418 Commerce Park Drive, Fort Myers. This event kicks off the 40 Days for Life Spring Campaign in Fort Myers. Contact [email protected] or 941-374-1068 for details.  

WHAT- Theology on Tap- Fr. Romanoski FSSP has been invited as the guest speaker to speak on - Our Lenten Game Plan: How to deepen your prayer life. 

WHERE- Southern Fresh Farms, 8500 Penzance Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33912. A lovely outdoor venue with picnic benches for free food and refreshments as well as practical presentations. Feel free to bring a lawn chair if you are more comfortable. Age appropriate drinks available for those under 21 as well.   

WHEN- This Thursday, February 11. 7pm-9 pm. Talk given from 7:30-8, with 10-15 minutes or so for Q&A.

FOR WHOM- Young adults, 18-39.

Any further questions may be addressed to [email protected]

This Sunday the Church prepares us for the holy season of Lent (Quadragesima) by three Sundays of preparation- Septuagesima, Sexagesima and Quinquagesima, three weeks to think well of what we will offer in sacrifice for Lent and/or gradually begin or ease into our Lenten sacrifices. Read more about this preparatory season from the Servant of God Dom Prosper Gueranger at: The Liturgical Year by Dom Guéranger - Septuagesima

This Tuesday, February 2nd, we celebrate the feast of Candlemass, when our Lord, the "light for the revelation of the gentiles" was presented in the temple. We will bless any candles you have (of predominantly beezwax) at the beginning of the 515pm mass. As the blessing may only be imparted once, those attending at 4pm may stay for the beginning of the 515pm mass for the blessing of candles which occurs before the mass begins. A procession will follow after the blessing around the chapel followed by a sung mass. Although we cannot carry lit candles in the church, feel free to bring the candles you would like blessed to take home with you afterwards. One must sign up for the sung mass at 515pm.  

This Wednesday, Feb 3, after the 4pm and 515pm masses, the blessing of throats, with candles blessed in honor of St. Blaise, will be imparted. 

"By the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every malady of the throat, and from every other malady; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Ghost. R. Amen."

The following are the total amounts donated in the fourth quarter of 2020 to support our chapel today, and build our permanent home for tomorrow. The totals do not influde the matching pledge of 250k from Dec 12 until Easter. An update on that match will be calculated by the end of January. If met, another 250k will be donated at Easter. Deo gratias! 

Average Sunday & Holy Day Mass attendance for the fourth quarter is up to 508, including: 

St. Agnes & St. William- Naples: 347
Resurrection of our Lord, Ft. Myers: 161

31 new household registrations: More than 2 new households every week through this quarter! (Oct-13, Nov.-7, Dec.-11)

From the USCCB- "January 22…shall be observed as a particular day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion."  

  A special Epiphany house blessing can be imparted to houses beginning on the Vigil of the Epiphany, Jan. 5, continuing through Epiphanytide. If you have not yet received this blessing, please sign up here, indicating your address, preferred days and time of day, and provide a phone number to contact you and confirm the visit. We will begin with the homes of those who have never yet received the blessing. Homes previously blessed can have their blessing renewed by the head of
household with the family, with the packets that will be available. Packets will be available at the back of church, containing Epiphany Water, Chalk, Incense and the sheet with the blessing and prayers also available to print here). Any voluntary donation for the packet will be appreciated to cover the cost of the materials. 

  The blessing of Epiphany water will take place on Tuesday, January 5th at 6:00PM in the chapel at St. Agnes. This beautiful and powerful blessing will take about 45 min. We will try to have enough water for everyone, but you are welcome to bring large containers of water (smaller containers should be emptied and filled from one of the big containers after the blessing), as well as any chalk, incense, gold, and myrrh which you wish to have blessed.  
As capacity is limited in the chapel, one must sign up for the ceremony.