Parish Highlights
SUNDAY MASS ONLINE
NEW: Join us this Sunday for the Mass of the Second Sunday in Advent, December 6, 2020, celebrated by Monsignor Robert E. Lawrence, Pastor, with Catherine Chayko, Director of Music.
REMINDER: All our Mass and Music videos are available on the Saint Columba Parish YouTube Channel.
NEW: St. Columba’s Music Ministry has formed a Virtual Choir, and this is our second video (our first is here).
Please like and share!! We present this with love, and with gratitude for every blessing that rains down from our Lord!
Video/audio work by Catherine Chayko, Music Director. The flute was played by Vicki Parker, and the bass was played by Theresa Chayko. Rain Down, copyright 1991, text and music by Jaime Cortez. Based on Psalm 33. Music is published by OCP Publications. https://youtu.be/JWfyGksOukc
This Tuesday, December 8, is the feast of the Immaculate Conception, a holyday of obligation. However, this year you are not obligated to attend Mass on this day because of the pandemic. However, we have several Masses for this holyday should you wish to attend. In this feast, we celebrate Mary having been conceived without original sin. This was a singular privilege given her by God because she would become the Mother of Jesus. Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception, is the patroness of the United States. The bishops of the United States kept this feast and Christmas as obligatory even when they fall on a Saturday or a Monday. It is obvious why they kept the celebration of Christmas. The feast of the Immaculate Conception was kept because it is the patronal feast of the United States. Masses will be celebrated on Monday, December 7, at 5:30 p.m. and on Tuesday, December 8, at 6:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., and 7:00 p.m.
The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent. A tradition is that each week represents one thousand years, to symbolize the 4,000 years from Adam and Eve until the birth of the Savior. Three candles are purple and one is rose. The purple candles, in particular, symbolize the prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices and good works undertaken at this time. The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday, which is the Sunday of rejoicing because the faithful have arrived at the midpoint of Advent, when their preparation is now half over and they are close to Christmas. The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord’s first coming into the world and the anticipation of His second coming to judge the living and the dead. It is customary to gather daily around the Advent wreath for family prayer.
With God, All Things Are Possible
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Welcome to One and All!
We are pleased that you are inquiring about our parish of Saint Columba! We are the only Roman Catholic parish in Bloomsburg, PA, and we are located in the downtown area, at the corner of Iron Street and Third Street. As you look through our website, you will learn about our parish. We are a part of the Diocese of Harrisburg with a parish of 1,136 households with 2,356 registered individuals. We are fortunate to have an elementary school, pre-school through eighth grade, attached to our parish. For those who attend public school, we have a Religious Education program on Sunday between our two morning Masses. In addition to our religious education classes, we have Life Teen for the ninth through
As you peruse our website, you will get a good idea of our parish. When you come to our church, you will have a better feel for what St. Columba Church really is.
St. Columba Church Pastor Monsignor Robert E. Lawrence
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August 18, 2020 Hello, this is Cathy from the Parish Office. As many know, from time-to-time, some of our parishioners have been receiving text messages from scammers... View Message
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June 12, 2020 Hello! just a reminder that those who wish to come for Communion only are asked to come at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday. ... View Message