From the Desk

I am aware that sometimes we become so busy that we forget all about our Lenten projects and vows. I want to assure you that there is still time to have a holy and meaningful Lent. What follows are suggestions that I would offer you. First, consider attending the few daily masses before lent is over.

Father Thomas J Boyer, one of the best preachers you’ll hear, will deliver our Lenten Mission this year. His theme will be the Language of the Liturgy. Join us and learn more about your Catholic faith!! Invite your friends to join you.

Our new Early Childhood Center will have six new classrooms, a multipurpose room, an office, an age appropriate playground, as well as ample bathrooms. It will be a state of the art facility to attract young families to our school and our parish. The current Early Childhood classrooms will be converted into meeting rooms for parish groups and activities.

Because Lent is a season of penance, I thought it would be a good time to discuss the difference between mortal and venial sin. All sin is serious and wounds our relationship with God and with our brothers and sisters. Sometimes, people have the impression that venial sins are not serious sins. They are. The difference lies in the consequences of the sin. Mortal sin breaks our relationship with God. Venial sin weakens our relationship with God.

The dedication of the new shrine was a profoundly beautiful and moving event. Blessed Stanley Rother, a farm boy from Oklahoma, gave his life for Christ and for the poor and marginalized people of Guatemala. His martyrdom reminds us of the need to lead heroic lives, and to be prepared to give everything for Christ if need be.

Each year the Archbishop approaches his parishes to seek their help in funding his ministries throughout the Archdiocese. Without our financial support, much of the Archbishop’s work would be left undone. For example, the work of educating future priests depends on the generosity of the faithful.

Thus far, I haven’t convinced enough parishioners to give to Ten Buck Sunday. Below, I will lay out my case for your participation. Our Capital Campaign is a $5 million + plan for a state of the art Early Childhood Development Center. We want to bring more young families to our school and parish. We also want to free space currently used by the school and use it for parish ministries.

You see them on lots of street corners, men and women, with cardboard signs, asking for money. Many of us feel guilty if we don’t help them, but to be honest with you, giving them money on the street is not the best way to help. Sometimes those folks are not even the truly poor.

Lent will be here before we know it. To be honest, I frequently find myself dreading Lent, mainly because it almost always becomes unmanageable for priests. Still, of all people, I know that I am in need of a season of conversion, which essentially is what Lent offers us. Below are some suggestions on how to make your Lent more productive spiritually.

One of the great obstacles to the spiritual life is our ego. Often, if we are not careful, we can allow our ego to give us an inaccurate understanding of who we are. Our egos can distort our sense of our abilities, our importance. People with inflated egos are very difficult to work with or live with.