Christ the Redeemer Parish in Atco will present four nights of spiritual outreach.
The week begins with the semi-annual Special Needs Mass Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m. Following the Mass, the Parish Music Ministry will present a Festival of Word and Song, telling the Christmas story through adapted Scripture readings and music.
On Dec. 2-3, Father Timothy Byerley, pastor of Mary, Queen of All Saints Parish of Pennsauken, and vice-postulator for the beatification cause of Maria Esperanza, leads the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the recitation of the rosary, and speaks on the life and faith of Maria Esperanza, closing each night with Benediction.
Esperanza was a visionary and the central figure in the Marian apparitions at Betania, Venezuela, which were approved by the church in 1987. After she died in Long Beach Island, N.J., in 2004, her beatification cause was initiated by the Diocese of Trenton. Father Byerley, who knew Maria Esperanza and her family since 1994, has worked with the Roman postulator, Dr. Andrea Ambrosi, in attending to the legal, procedural and monetary matters related to the cause.
On Dec. 4 will be an Advent penance service.
The events on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings will be preceded with a celebration of the Daily Mass at 6:30 p.m. by Father Thomas Barcellona, pastor of Christ the Redeemer Parish, with each event beginning immediately after.
For more information contact the Parish Office at 856-767-0719 or via email at info@ctratco.com. All events will take place at Assumption Church, 318 Carl Hasselhan Drive, Atco and are open to the public, free of charge.