My Dear Friends,
As we continue our Lenten journey, we are surrounded by so many parish activities that lift our eyes towards the heavens as we prepare to celebrate the Paschal Mystery. We have seen an increase in our confession lines on Saturday morning and in people calling to ask for appointments for confessions. To address this joyful need, Father David and I will be adding confession times during the week to accommodate more penitents. On Tuesday, Father David will be in the parish office to hear confessions from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. On Thursdays, I will be hearing confessions in the parish office at the same times.
We would normally do this in the church in our confessionals as we do on Saturday mornings, but the organ installation is ongoing, and we need to be out of the church as soon as weekday Masses end so that the good folks who are building the organ have as much time as possible during the day to accomplish this important task. This is a good segway to remind everyone that we are back in the church for daily Mass, but the church will be closed for prayer for the duration of Lent because of the installation. As you can see as you look towards the balcony, the installation is progressing rather quickly and today we receive the actual pipes. It does require some sacrifice on our part as we don’t have full access to our church just yet, and even during Mass there may be a worker or two doing quiet work. But as I reminded our daily Mass goers this past Monday, there have been many a time where I have celebrated a Mass in Europe or in the Holy Land in a church that was undergoing renovations and yet, Mass still continued very devotedly in spite of the noise. Just keep praying for these fine workers and the divine task that has been entrusted to them as we watch our beautiful pipe organ slowly come to life all for the glory of God.
Some other Lenten events that you might want to add to your schedule:
The next Marriage Covenant retreat in English will take place in Comber Hall next weekend, March 13-15. It is a beautiful retreat that is offered to the married couples of our parish, and I invite you to take time out of your busy schedule to reconnect with your spouse and with the Lord during this transformative experience.
The annual Knights of Columbus Fish Fry will be held on Friday, March 20th in our school cafeteria from 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. The Knights do a wonderful job with this uniquely Lenten Catholic tradition of a fish fry, and all the proceeds benefit the Carmelite Vocations Fund. And we definitely could use more Carmelite Sisters to teach our children!
The Lenten Stations of the Cross are ongoing every Friday. The Friday morning 8:30a Stations are being held in the Adoration Chapel. Years ago, Father Michael Davis purchased a breathtaking olive wood Stations in the Holy Land that adorn the walls of our chapel, and they are rarely used. We have an opportunity to truly gaze on them this month.
Father David will offer a Lenten Evening of Reflection on Tuesday, March 24 at 7:00 p.m. in the church.
Finally, a small Lenten prayer that I preached on last week taken from one of the psalms. It was the entrance antiphon of the Mass of Wednesday of the first week of Lent: “Remember your compassion, O Lord, and your merciful love, for they are from of old. Let not our enemies exult over us. Redeem us, O God of Israel, from all our distress.” (Psalm 25)
God Bless You All,
