The faithful of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Fairfield welcomed Bishop Timothy Senior for a pastoral visit on Sunday morning, July 20, in their church overlooking the green hillsides of the Adams County town.
St. Mary’s Parish celebrated its bicentennial in 2023. Its original church was located on Main Street, and the current church was completed just a mile south on Tract Road in 2000. The parish has been under the care of the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary since 1993. Father Peter DiTomasso is the current pastor of St. Mary’s and of St. Rita, just a few miles away in Blue Ridge Summit.
During the Mass, the bishop reflected on the day’s Gospel reading of Martha and Mary and their hospitality to Jesus and His disciples. While Martha is busy preparing and serving a meal and tending to the needs of the guests, Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, taking in His words and teachings.
In his homily, Bishop Senior spoke of the dichotomy of the two sisters, and Jesus telling an exasperated Martha, “There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”
“Let us strive every time we come into the presence of the Lord to remember that we’re right there with Mary and are invited to sit at Jesus’ feet. That gives us the energy to go back to being Martha, to live that faith and share in the sufferings of Christ and to share also in His glory,” Bishop Senior said.
After the Mass, Father DiTomasso showed Bishop Senior the new Stations of the Cross on the parish grounds. Located above the parish parking lot, the Stations were completed by Eagle Scout Eddie Gaskin, who recently entered basic training with the Army National Guard.
Learn more about Immaculate Conception Parish at https://www.stmarysfairfieldpa.org/.
(Photos by Jen Reed, The Catholic Witness.)
By Jen Reed, The Catholic Witness
