From the Pastor&#039;s Desk: Feb. 27, 2022

Today, for the third straight week, we have a chance to listen to Jesus and the greatest homily ever given as He continues to preach His sermon on the Plain. After teaching us the Beatitudes- to love our enemies, to pray for our persecutors, to do good to those who persecute us, to turn the other cheek, to walk the extra mile out of love for even someone who doesn’t love us, today He continues to call us to action. Jesus has three central teachings in today’s Gospel: first is about Blind Guides; the second about the speck and the plank; the third is about trees bearing fruit. All three go together. Jesus calls all of us first to look at Him and the Church He founded as our guide so that we can know we’re on the way to Him; then to look within and remove any planks in our sight that can prevent us from seeing Him. He calls us always to be attached to Him, who is the Vine. Then attached to Him, having removed sin from our eyes, He calls us to be guides for others, pointing to Him, bearing fruit in acts of love, helping them by our patient and loving example to remove the specks from their eyes so that they can see Jesus.

This weekend in our diocese, we will conduct the Bishop’s Annual Stewardship Appeal. The Appeal provides the opportunity to learn more about the critical support that it provides to our Church. You may have received a commitment envelope in the mail or you will receive one as you enter the church today. We ask that you prayerfully respond to this year’s Appeal with a pledge of any amount - your participation strengthens our Church family and truly makes a significant difference in the lives of many in need within our diocese. Your gift should be something in addition to what you give to your parish. Every gift is important and as one large family, we can do so much more! As your Pastor, I want to assure you that the funds you contribute are deeply appreciated by everyone who will benefit from your generosity. On behalf of Bishop Estévez and myself, I thank you for your generous contribution to the Bishop’s Annual Stewardship Appeal. May God bless you!

This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday – the beginning of the Holy Season of Lent. Lent comes from an Old English word that means “springtime”. It is the 40 day period in the year of the Church for spiritual preparation for Easter. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends before the Mass of the Lord’s Supper – Holy Thursday. It is the season of significant prayer, penance and almsgiving through grace and conversion, reconciliation, and renewal of baptismal promises.

Although Ash Wednesday is not a holy day of obligation, many members of the parish will want to keep it as a solemn beginning to their Lenten observance. For us Catholics, it is a reminder that Lent is very serious business. “Repent and believe in the Gospel” strikes at the heart of the meaning of Lent that prepares us for the manifestation of God’s love in Jesus’ self-giving of His life and His Resurrection. During Lent this year, instead of traditional ways of giving things up, let’s focus on doing something—something bold to become a better husband or wife, father or mother, son or daughter, friend, neighbor, etc. To do something that is life-changing. This is the perfect time not only to abandon self-destructive habits, but also to form new life-giving habits, habits that can extend beyond the 40 days of Lent. Therefore, I strongly encourage every parishioner to sign up for Best Lent Ever program or choose to participate in some of the many programs that we make available during Lent. In addition to the spiritual opportunities, please take advantage of the physical needs– the weekly Fish Fry Dinners before the Stations of the Cross.

On Fridays of Lent, Catholics age 14 and older abstain from meat. Why Fridays? Because it unites us to the day of our Lord's death. Why abstain from meat? Because during biblical times, meat was considered a food of rejoicing, since it was not always available. We abstain from eating meat (“the food of rejoicing”) in mourning for Jesus and the death He suffered for our sins.

Wishing you a blessed week and best Lent ever!
With prayers,
Fr. Andy