From the desk of Fr. Mike,
Today, we begin the liturgical season of Winter Ordinary Time. We will count through the weeks leading to the season of Lent, which begins the first Wednesday of Lent. We have eight weeks of ordinary time to reflect on our relationship with the Lord, our relationship with Jesus. Today, we listen to John's gospel and the beautiful story of Jesus' first miracle, changing the water into wine at the wedding in Cana. The gospel records that the disciples "came to believe". This is the first record of Jesus' miracles. May our faith grow, deepen and mature as God's grace works in our lives of faith.
This past Friday, thousands of people gathered at the Mall in Washington DC to participate in the 2019 March for Life. The theme of this year's march is "Unique from day one!" The unique fingerprint that each of us has - distinguishing us from any other human on the planet, is determined by that DNA at day one! Right from the beginning of life, you are becoming the unique, incredible, unrepeatable person that you are!
Last Sunday, members of our parish participated in the Chicago March for Life at Daley Plaza. They came together with thousands of people from across the Archdiocese to participate in the March for Life. Parishioners praying and marching were conduits of God's grace active in the Church.
In one of the Christmas cards that I received from a parishioner at another parish was the following
Prayer to Support Life.
Lord, by your grace remove doubt and fear from any expectant mother considering abortion. Let someone enter her life to prove the hope and support she needs to give birth to her baby. Let me be that person.
Soften the hearts of those in the abortion industry so they see the beauty and dignity of life in the womb, and that they choose to work elsewhere.
Awaken cold or complacent hearts asleep in their faith. Inspire them to create a culture of life in their hearts and homes.
Give courage to elected officials to pass laws that affirm life and support women in crisis pregnancies and to end tax payer funding of abortion.
And Lord, help us who proclaim you as our Lord and Savior to always support life from conception to natural death.
Amen.
While parishioners were heading down to the Respect Life March in Chicago, youth and parents were helping the hungry in our midst by supporting the Pack the Pantry collection at our sharing parish, Most Blessed Trinity. The students were told that well over 200 families will benefit from the food drive they participated in at St. Mary's. Hundreds of bags of food and toiletries were brought to the Food Pantry Sunday afternoon. With the help of parishioners of all ages, our students were able to be a conduit of God's grace active in the Church.
This weekend we pray for and support the Church in Latin America through the second collection. The Collection for the Church in Latin America is an opportunity to #ShareYourFaith with our brothers and sisters in Latin America and the Caribbean. You can find more resources and information at
www.usccb.org/latin-america
.
May we recognize miracles that happen in our lives and world when we Respect Life, feed the hungry, and help spread the faith across the hemisphere.
God bless you with a faithful heart this year!!!
Donations can be made online at 
