Pastor's Notes - 03/03/2019

As we approach the Lenten season, I wanted to make sure that you are clear on the expectations for observing what the Church is asking of you.  If you are 14 and older, then you are asked to not eat meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent including Good Friday.  There is no age when this expires for adults.  Health issues are justified reasons for being excused from the abstinence.  If you are 18 to 59, then one is asked not to eat in between meals and eat only one normal size meal and two smaller ones on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.  I hope that clarifies any questions that you may have.

Usually part of our Lenten Journey is the Stations of the Cross.  We will continue to use the Stations that were used the last few years on Friday nights at 7 p.m.  Each week there is a different theme to the Stations.  As for the school, there will be Stations, but not every Friday.  During March the school Stations will be on 15 ^th and 29 ^th at 2 p.m.

CRS Rice Bowl is one way for families and faith communities to experience the season of Lent.  Rice Bowl is the Lenten program of Catholic Relief Services and begins on Ash Wednesday, March 6.  Seventy-five percent of your Rice Bowl donations support CRS’s humanitarian relief programs.  Twenty-five percent of your donation this year stays in our parish.  We would like to use that 25% to make a donation to our local Homeless Task Force.  We have homeless people visit our parish office on a regular basis needing assistance.  We began referring them to the Homeless Task Force several weeks ago.  They have the ability to provide a variety of assistance such as a place to stay or funds for gas.  Unfortunately, there is never enough funding.  Please donate to this cause through your monthly envelope or online method this year.   We also are providing the Rice Bowls in the gathering area for your convenience. 

We also have Wednesday evening Lenten Soup nights; the Eucharistic Miracles Exhibit March 7-10; Sr. Mary Kathleen Ronan’s talk on “His Sacrifice and Our Sacrifice – Entry into Lent”; a three week series: "Presence, Mystery of the Eucharist" on March 7, 14 and 21 at 7 p.m.; Mrs. Hertlein’s tour of the church on Sunday, March 31 at 2 p.m.; and Dr. Shawn McCauley Welch on Sunday, April 7 at 7 p.m. speaking on “Mother Teresa, our Sister in Christ”.