A Letter From Fr. Paul - February 23, 2020

The Disciple Maker Index survey link, www.DiscipleMakerIndex.com, is active as of February 23rd.  Please take a few minutes to fill it out, online, if possible. For those who do not use the internet, we have copies in the back of church.  Filling this anonymous instrument out will help you reflect on your strengths and where you need to grow.  It will also help parish leaders know where we are providing good ministries and where we need to fill in the gaps.  I ask each parishioner to participate.

Please be aware that scams are being sent out using my name asking for gift cards, donations, etc.  I will NOT send e-mails like that.  If you receive an e-mail that seems suspicious, send me an e-mail before you open it, asking if it is legitimate. Don’t ever send money or information without asking me first. This scam is happening to priests across the country.

Lent begins this week with Ash Wednesday.  Please join us for Mass at 8:00 am or 7:00 pm.

This is the last weekend before Lent and maybe our readings are setting us up for what we should work on in Lent!  They are very clear in what God is calling us to, but doing it is a difficult challenge for us humans.  And what is it?  Loving our enemies!

Look at what we hear in these readings:

  - [do] not bear hatred for your brother/sister in your heart
  - take no revenge
  - cherish no grudge
  - love your neighbor as yourself
  - offer no resistance
  - turn the other cheek
  - love your enemies
  - pray for those who persecute you
  - do not turn your back on your own

I don’t need to comment on these; they speak for themselves.  Our culture needs the witness of people trying to live according to these norms.  Name calling, open hatred, verbal violence – all of these are rampant in our politics and all around us.  Our efforts to avoid these sins and to practice the virtues presented in our scripture readings can make a difference. Our witness is sorely needed!

It is not easy, but we need to work on improving.  Underlying all these virtues is the virtue of humility.  I invite you to join me on Tuesday evening, March 3rd, for a short presentation on the virtue of humility with time for reflection in front of the Blessed Sacrament, asking the Lord to help us to grow during Lent.  More information is in this bulletin and on our website.

Reflection: how am I at forgiving others?  Is there someone I need to forgive?  How can I plan out a way of doing it that will work for me?  And let us support each other in prayer.