St. Jude

St. Francis of Assisi

Mary at the Annunciation

This statue of Our Lady depicts her as a young girl during the time of Annunciation. Believed to be about 14 years old, Mary told the Angel Gabriel: “How can this be since I so not know man?” (Luke 1:34), and then, “I am a servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say.”(Luke 1:38). When she visited her cousin Elizabeth in Ain Karim, Mary, the Christ bearer and guest, entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth , “My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my soul rejoices in God my Savior.” (Luke 1:46) In the wonderful words of The Magnificat, we find in Mary's “Yes” the joyful reflections of God's fidelity and her obedience to Him.

We venerate Mary, our mother, and ask for her intercession before the throne of her Son. Like all good mothers everywhere, Mary, our mother, keeps her children under her protective mantle, watches over us and leads us on the path home to her Son. What a wonderful gift God has given to us in His Mother!