Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear Parishioners,

    The smell of burning palms greeted us as we arrived at church today.  This reminds us that this Wednesday is Ash Wednesday.  Do you have your personal Lenten plan in place?  If we do not have a plan, then it is hard to execute it.  I always like to try to pray over what I want to do ahead of time. 

    This year the parish will base its renewal efforts around the book Live Lent.  The scriptures of each daily Mass are laid out in this program.  You can personally reflect on the Bible readings.  There is also an opportunity to join a small group and discuss the Sunday readings.  Our weekly speakers for our Wednesday night devotions will be taking their topics from this study. 

One of the things that it is good to commit to is daily Mass.  Some people come every day.  Other parishioners come several times a week.  Eucharist is the center of our Catholic lives.  It seems like some Catholics have forgotten this fact.  On Wednesdays parishioners can attend daily Mass and there is also Eucharistic Adoration throughout the day. No one needs to sign up.  You can just stop in anytime between 7:00am and 5:00pm

There are other devotions people can participate in. Just check the bulletin.  This six-week period is a time for renewal and recommitment to our Baptismal promises.  Don’t let the time pass without doing something to grow in relationship with the Lord.

Let’s all make plans now and follow through. If we find that we are failing, then let’s have the fortitude to begin again.  The commitments we make can be a great grace for all of us.

Blessings,

Fr. Mark