New Parish Name Options
-
First: An Important Note About Our Names
Per policy and Canon Law, the name of a Catholic Church building is not meant to be changed, even when events such as church mergers take place. To this end, both St. Mary Star of the Sea Church and St. Patrick Church will retain their names, allowing for a continued tradition and history in both communities.
Looking To the Future
As we look to the future, however, a new parish name is necessary as we unite into one newly merged parish. After conversation and consultation, the Parish Integration Team chose two possible names to be presented and voted on by the church communities. It is believed that either name would be fitting and meaningful, and our hope is that the name selected will be one that assists in uniting our new parish and leading us in faith into our future together.
VOTING FOR THE NEW PARISH NAME WILL TAKE PLACE AT MASSES DURING THE WEEKENDS OF OCTOBER 12/13 AND 19/20.The two parish name options are Our Lady of Knock Parish and Christ the Redeemer Parish. For helpful information about these two names, please continue reading below.
Our Lady of Knock
“On the evening of the 21st of August 1879, a heavenly Apparition occurred at the gable wall of the Parish Church when Our Lady appeared, in the company of St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist. Unique to the Knock Apparition was the presence of the Eucharistic Lamb in front of a Cross, standing upon an altar and surrounded by angels. The Apparition lasted about two hours and 15 official witnesses gave their testimonies to a Commission of Enquiry in October of that year.” (From “The Apparition of Knock” of the Knock Shrine)This powerful and historic Marian Apparition took place in Knock, Ireland, a tranquil village in County Mayo. The association with Ireland would beautifully connect the new parish name to the many Irish forefathers of both of our church families and to St. Patrick, while also allowing a continued unity with St. Mary's by choosing a wonderful new title that has been given to Our Lady and has been an inspiration to many who have visited the sight of her appearance. To learn more about Our Lady of Knock, you can go to knockshrine.ie/history.
Christ the Redeemer
“Yes, my gentle Redeemer, let me say it,
You are crazy with love!
Is it not foolish for you
to have wanted to die for me?
But if You, my God,
have become crazy with love for me,
how can I not become crazy with love for You?”
(From "The Passion and Death of Jesus Christ”
by St. Alphonsus Liguori)
The redemption of humanity through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has allowed for the miraculous connection between us and our Lord, truly offering us a participation in God’s life. Restored from the bondage of sin, we are able to live freely and to seek the eternal promise offered through such a remarkable act of salvation. With one church holding the name of a great saint and another holding the name of our Blessed Virgin Mary, the name of Jesus Christ could be a powerful, uniting name to place at the head of this new parish.