Today, we are very fortunate to be welcoming Fr. Jim Presta to our parish for our Lenten Mission. You are part of the Mission by coming to church and sharing in the Eucharist. Hopefully your schedule allows you to come to one or more of the Mission presentations this coming week. The 2019 Church of St. Mary Lenten Mission is as follows:

 

 

Sunday, March 31 at 7:30pm in the Church - Mission Presentation

Monday, April 1 at 7:00pm in the Church - Mission Presentation with Reconciliation

Wednesday, April 3 at 7:00pm in the Church - Mission Presentation with Mass

 

The sacrament of reconciliation will be part of the Mission Monday, April 1. All are welcome to come share in God's reconciling love in the healing sacrament of reconciliation. May God's mercy be received by all who turn to God with contrite hearts. Friends, parishioners, and families are welcome to come and pray with us as we pray with "Mary at the Foot of the Cross." Thank you to those who have made a Lenten Mission offering. A collection will be taken up on Wednesday evening, the final night of the Mission.

 

It is during the Sacred Triduum, the three days that link the season of Lent with the Easter season that we celebrate Good Friday, the day our Lord and Savior stretched out His arms on the cross and died. Recently, I heard someone share that they didn't need to nail Jesus to the cross for His commitment would have held Him there.

On Good Friday, we participate in the Passion of the Lord according to John. On Good Friday, we join together with believers around the globe after proclaiming the Passion; we come forward, as part of a community of faith to venerate the cross of Jesus. The veneration is a prayerful, powerful, and moving experience. Some believers venerate the cross with a kiss. Some believers venerate the cross with a touch. Some believers venerate the cross with a reverent bow. Some believers venerate the cross with an embrace. Parishioners of St. Mary's come to celebrate Good Friday by venerating the Cross of Jesus.

 

I invite you to bring a family member, bring a neighbor, bring a co-worker with you to the Lenten Mission as we, together in prayer, spend time with Mary, at the foot of the cross during these prayerful 40 days of Lent.

 

Stations of the Cross, a wonderful Lenten devotion are celebrated on Friday's at 7:00pm. This Friday, April 5, a beautiful celebration of Taizé Prayer is being offered at St. Patrick's Church. Please join us as one community to pray for peace and reconciliation in our hearts and in our world.  This one-hour service consists of simple songs, scripture, and a service of light periods of silence and meditation, and a time for voicing our petitions.  All are welcome to the Taiz é Prayer service at 7:30pm!

 

Please remember those in our RCIA program, their sponsors, families, and our parish in prayer these Lenten days. The members of our RCIA program will be received into the Church on April 20, Holy Saturday, at the Easter Vigil. Short biographies have been included in recent bulletins introducing them to the parish.

 

This year we have over 500 people that signed up to be ENGAGED in Lenten prayer and devotion. Bishop Barron's Word on Fire ministry is helping us stay ENGAGED as we deepen our relationship with the Lord. Perhaps you have also found the time to use the programs, files, and prayers in the Word on Fire library during Lent. May the efforts we offer to God in our prayer, in our fasting, and in our almsgiving make this a Lent for spiritual growth.

 

This coming Saturday, April 6, we welcome Bishop Joseph Perry to St. Mary's for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation. May those being confirmed always rely on the presence of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Most Holy Trinity, in their faith.

 

God bless you with a prayerful heart!!!