This weekend we take up The Catholic Relief Services Collection to help Jesus in disguise. This collection helps six Catholic agencies provide relief and support to struggling communities and work for peace and reconciliation among our marginalized brothers and sisters here and around the world. Please prayerfully consider how you can support the collection. Learn more about the collection at www.usccb.org/catholic-relief.
On Ash Wednesday, as we began our Lenten journey, as ashes were imposed on us, we heard the phrase, “repent, and believe in the Gospel.” It was not a suggestion, but a command to orient ourselves to God. Have we followed this command of the Lord? As we listen to the Gospel for today’s Mass, we are challenged to bear good fruit. In order to bear good fruit, we must allow God to shape and mold our lives. This was not a new message from Jesus, but an affirmation of the covenant that God made with His people from the beginning. God is faithful—and so we are called to be. When we stray and wither or produce bad fruit, we have the opportunity to repent and try again.
At this early point in our Lenten journey, our Scripture readings remind us of God’s promise to humanity and His faithfulness to those promises. Today we hear two dramatic encounters with God. In the dark of night, God leads Abraham in to a covenant, promising that Abraham’s descendants will be as numerous as the stars of the sky and live in the Promised Land. In the Gospel from Saint Luke, God speaks to Peter, James, and John through the shadow of a cloud. Saint Paul, who had his own dramatic encounter with God, assures the Philippians—and us—that we will share in Christ’s glory in heaven.
Our All-Star Drama Club’s production of Aladdin will take place on Friday, March 15th, and Saturday, March 16th. Tickets are $10 each. Doors open each night at 6:30 p.m. and the play begins at 7:00 p.m. Concessions will be sold each night. Please come out and show your support of our All-Star Players and enjoy a family fun night at the same time!
The season of Lent is here. It began with Ash Wednesday. On this First Sunday of Lent, we hear Jesus being tempted by the devil during the forty days he spent in the desert. We too, are beginning a forty-day period in which we are challenged to repent and re-orient ourselves toward God. We face many temptations that distract us from following the Lord Jesus or lead us away from God. Each year during the season of Lent we are given new opportunities to repent and grow in our relationship with the One who gave His all so we could live. In the movie and broadway production of Godspell, the song Day-by Day offers us a challenge as we journey in Lent. Day by day, three things I pray: to see thee more clearly… to love thee more dearly...to follow thee more nearly...day by day. May we accept the challenge this Lenten season.
Over the past few weeks we have heard Jesus teach his disciples and us how to see the world through God’s eyes. Today in the Gospel, Jesus tells us to remove the wooden beam from our judging eyes. This is a challenge for us. We are quick to point out someone else’s fault, but we fail to see our own faults. Repeatedly in the Gospel, Jesus has taught and shown us the Father’s mercy…to the sinner…to the enemy...to the needy. Jesus calls us to do the same.
Spring Garden Clean Up Day!! It’s time to clean up the parking lot planters! Your help is needed! Please join us on Saturday, March 23 10:00 a.m. Bring gloves, garden snippers, rakes, Young people who need service hours are welcome! Plans are to clean, weed and remulch. Pine needle donations are welcome and can be dropped off at church or picked up if needed. Please call the rectory if you have pine needles that need to be picked up. (Water will be available)