6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear Parishioners,

We gather as we do each Sunday as the body of Christ. Jesus calls us to love God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. On this Valentine’s Day, we commit ourselves to nurturing that love for God and love for our neighbor. The readings at Mass today deal with the illness of leprosy, which was a sign of sinfulness and separation from God. In the Gospel, Jesus reaches out and touches the leper. The leper is literally not separated from God. Not even leprosy is a barrier to Jesus’ healing touch. Do not be afraid to come to the Lord our God in your need. Trust that the Lord will comfort you in times of pain and illness. Jesus, the eternal Word of God, draws near to us to heal us of every wound.

The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 17th. Masses with distribution of ashes will be at 6:30 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. A Liturgy of the Word Prayer Service with distribution of ashes will be at 12:10 P.M. This year because of the pandemic, instead of having a cross of ashes on your forehead, ashes will be sprinkled on the top of your head.

Fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 59. Those who are bound to fast may take only one full meal. Eating solid foods between meals is not permitted. Abstinence from meat is to be observed by all Catholics 14 years or older on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and on all Fridays of Lent.

Please refer to the bulletin insert for additional Mass times and confession times during the season of Lent. All bulletin inserts are available on our website at http://www.st-peter-reserve.org.

Have a blessful day and Happy Valentine’s Day!