Looking Toward Lent (6th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

Greetings dear parishioners!
The season of Lent is quickly approaching. As with everything in life, proper planning is essential for success. The spiritual life is no exception. We have been praying and reflecting on how to make this year's Lent more prayerful and fruitful. We are introducing the praying of the Liturgy of the Hours fifteen minutes before our weekday Masses on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday beginning on the Thursday after Ash Wednesday.

The Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office or Work of God (Opus Dei), is the official prayer of the Church prayed by the clergy and religious on behalf of the church and for the sanctification of the hours of the day. It is the very prayer which Christ himself together with his Body addresses to the Father” (Sacrosanctum concilium 84). The Second Vatican Council highly encourages the laity to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, whether individually or as part of the Christian community. We will also pray Evening Prayer (Vespers) as a community on the eve of major solemnities throughout the year. I will be offering training on this beautiful prayer of the Church, which the Second Vatican Council describes as “truly the voice of the Bride herself addressed to her Bridegroom.” The date would be Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at 7pm in the Church. We will then have the opportunity to pray Compline (Night Prayer) for that day.

During Lent, we will have the opportunity to participate in “The Rescue Project.” This series will expose us to the reality of sin, the captivity that follows, the salvific mission of Jesus Christ, who, in obedience to the Father and for love of humanity came to rescue us from the clutches of the evil one and what our response should be. Isaiah attests, “all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned each one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). I highly encourage everyone to participate as you are able. No one is too far gone to be rescued, and no one is too holy that they will not benefit greatly.

About three years ago our parish partnered with Catholic Leadership Institute (CLI) to create a vision for our parish. We have been working hard and intentionally to live out this mission/vision since then. As a way to evaluate where we are at with our parish mission we will be collaborating with CLI to conduct a Disciple Maker Index (DMI) beginning on Ash Wednesday (02/22/23). The DMI would be a survey of parishioners’ feedback on various aspects of parish life and ministry. The goal is to determine, through parishioners’ input, areas of strength as well as opportunities for growth and improvement. This is intended for all our parishioners as well as those who worship with us on a regular basis, but are not officially registered yet. We appeal to everyone to take the survey in order to get a good representation of views from our parishioners.

Finally, we thank the Knights of Columbus of our parish for volunteering to bring back Coffee and Donuts on the 2nd Sunday of every month after the 9:00 a.m. Mass. Please show your gratitude by joining us monthly, and thank the Knights for the sacrifices they are making to help build our community. We encourage the men of our parish who have not yet considered becoming Knights to pray about it and join this awesome fraternity.

May Jesus bless you, and may Our Lady protect you!

Fr. Julius