Each year, we joyfully anticipate the Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the beloved patroness of our parish. Her image and intercession are a deep source of comfort, inspiration, and love for our faith community. Naturally, we wish to honor her with the celebration she so beautifully deserves.

However, this year her feast day—June 27—falls on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. In the Church, we have a liturgical hierarchy: Solemnities, Feasts, and Memorials. Solemnities, take precedence over most other observances, including the Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

And we cannot “move” our feast day to the following Sunday, since it is the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles. And last Sunday, we celebrated the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. This year, we are hemmed in by solemnities that must take precedence over our patronal feast day.

This is not meant to diminish Our Lady’s importance—quite the opposite. Mary, as Mother of the Church, always points us to her Son and honors those who carried His Gospel to the ends of the earth. She delights when we pause to celebrate Jesus and His apostles with special reverence.

While we will not celebrate Our Lady’s feast liturgically this year due to the solemnities, we will still joyfully honor her in our community!

Join us as we celebrate Our Lady of Perpetual Help during the Maple Shade Independence Day Parade on Saturday, June 28. Look for our parish group as we walk together in her honor—sharing her message of love and help with our whole town!

“May we always remain true to the Church’s liturgical life, which unites us in faith, brings clarity to our worship, and graces our communal prayer with a beautiful, steady rhythm.”

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, pray for us!
Saints Peter and Paul, pray for us!