Pastor's Corner for Sunday, March 2, 2025

[Father Paul]

Baptism during Saturday, March 1st Mass – Mass will be longer:

Saturday evening's Mass will be very special for us. In addition to having some of our first communion children joining us (we are hosting an optional first communion class for children and parents at 4:00 pm on Saturday), we have an inscription ceremony for our young people preparing for confirmation, followed by pizza and a youth ministry bowling event after that. But what's even more special for me is that two of the students will be fully initiated into the Catholic Faith. Zachary Calvitto will be baptized during Mass, and Diego Sanchez will receive his first communion.

Small groups starting this week:

Our small groups are starting this week, and I am deeply grateful to Debbie Pine for taking the overall leadership of this great initiative, and to all our hosts and participants for stepping forward into a deeper relationship with Christ. We have met our goal of having 20 groups, and I would like to see this expand over the years to include as many parishioners as possible. Our walk with the Lord is not only about coming to Mass on Sunday, but also living the Christian life. Small groups provide the encouragement and companionship that help us live that life with grace. I'll be joining a small group on Monday nights myself, and I look forward to this journey. We are all using the same resource – Rebuilt Faith: a Manual for Skeptical Catholics. I'm excited to see what will happen to our parish when so many are feeling the support and encouragement that come when two or more are gathered in His name.

My homilies for the season of Lent will be based on the same topics you will be discussing in your small groups. This week, I will be talking about the first week in Rebuilt Faith, "Get to know Jesus." If you would like a copy of the book, they are available after Mass for $10.00 so you can make this journey with us. The book is written as a series of daily meditations, one for each day: “40 Days to Uncover What Matters.”

Lenten overview: Here is an overview of our Lenten program:

Ash Wednesday: Masses at 9:00 am and 7:00 pm. St. Alexander School is coming to the parish at 10:30 am but seating is reserved for our children and parents who would like to attend. It will be very full already.

Fridays during Lent: Stations of the Cross at 7:00 pm:

Tuesdays (all year) from 7:00 pm –8:00 pm: Adoration and confession, including special prayer services for the success of our small group campaign. All are welcome.

Development and Peace:

2nd Sunday of Lent, March 15-16: Debt Action Sunday – Petition will be available to sign after Masses

Friday March 28th: Solidarity Sunday Stations of the Cross

4th Sunday of Lent: March 29-30: Solidarity Sunday

Let’s make this the best Lent ever!

Fr. Paul