A Letter from Fr. Paul - February 25, 2018

​NOTICE:  by mistake, the letter from last week was used again this week.  This is the correct one.  SORRY

Ministry opportunity of the week:  support the 2018 Catholic Stewardship Appeal which has the theme “Dare to Lead.”  Today I highlight support of ministry to young adults and college students through college Newman centers and programs such as Theology on Tap and Brew City Catholic. These efforts support our young Catholics at a critical stage of development.  Please use the mailing you received and be as generous as possible.  There are extra forms and envelopes in the back of church, if you misplaced yours.

Between 9 and 10 am on three Saturdays (March 3, 17, and 24) in the rectory living room, Br. Silas Henderson SDS will present a series focusing on stories from the Gospel and how these give us insights into what it means to follow “the Way” of Jesus.  Please take advantage of this opportunity for a good start to Lent.

For the first Sunday of Lent, Jesus’ humanity was presented to us through his temptations in the desert. This second Sunday His divinity is presented through the Transfiguration.  Jesus had told His disciples that He must suffer and die and they must take up the cross, but they didn’t get it, arguing who would be the greatest when Jesus set up His earthly kingdom.  The Transfiguration was to give them something to hold on to as they went through Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

Note what the voice from heaven says:  This is my beloved Son.  Listen to him. Very simple and direct.  Jesus is identified as the Son of God.  We are instructed to LISTEN.

Here we are again: back to LISTENING to the Lord.  And to do that we have to spend quiet time with our mouths closed.  I invite each of us to spend at least 15 minutes a day in quiet reflection.  Use the Lenten book by Henri Nouwen, if it is helpful.  And let us support each other in prayer.

-- Paul James Portland, SDS