Dear friends:

+ Lent

On Ash Wednesday, Feb. 25, the Church began her great Lenten journey with Jesus on the road to Jerusalem. For centuries, Lent has been a very intense spiritual journey and experience for the followers of Jesus Christ.

Lent invites us to turn from our own selves, from our sin, to come together in community. Self-denial is the way we express our repentance.

Fasting is an aid to make us feel in our bodies, for a given period of time, what  many people experience through the whole of their lives.  I remember the look of a Sierraleonian child when, during my sermon, I mentioned that in Lent we should eat once a day. His face brightened with joy!

Lent is a time to fast from certain things, but also a time to feast on others. (See attached article)

+ Legion of Mary:

We have in the Parish a small, but very motivated and dedicated group of people who honor Mary and serve the Parish in different ways. Members become instruments of the Holy Spirit through prayer and service.

Works include door-to-door evangelization, parishioner visitation, prison ministry, visitation of the sick or aged, crowd contact, religious education, visiting the newly baptized and meeting the other spiritual needs of the parish community.
Legionaries are under the guidance of a spiritual director named by the Pastor. The Legion is, in essence, an extension of the heart and hands of the Pastor.
This group is looking for new members and I would strongly encourage parishioners to join in. For more information ready the attached article 

+ A radical threat to Human Life: F.O.C.A.

We are facing the most serious Threat to pro-life ever: the “Freedom of chose Act”, or FOCA This bill would create a right to abortion the government could not limit and bring about a national abortion policy far worse than the US Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision.
Abortion supporters have been trying to pass FOCA since 1989 and now we have a Congress more disposed than any in recent year to pass the bill, and a ne President who has said he will sign the measure into Law.

Our voices as Christians are needed more than ever!

Please, urge your federal elected officials to oppose FOCA or any similar measure, and to retain laws against the federal funding and promotion of abortion.

Cards are available at the church entrance. 

+ From Bishop Garcia:

Following up the Vicariate meeting of November 1st at St. Patricia Parish: “Gathered as one in our God” Bishop Garcia wrote us a letter on February 11th where he encourages us to strengthen the bonds of faith in our Parishes. He also sent us a set of questions to be discussed at our meetings as a preparation to his visit to our parish on March 8th.

1. As Catholics, what is the source of our hope? Can our Parishioners articulate the “reasons for their hope”? If not, how can we help them to more consciously grasp this essential belief?
2. Do our parishioners know what is expected of them in or parish communities? Do they know what they are expected to give? What they are expected to receive? How can we better form, catechize and orientate our parishioners?
3. How can parishes support the development of lay ecclesial ministers in this vicariate? What steps can be taken to educate the faithful to the significance of lay ecclesial ministry? What are the next steps to bring our Parishes into greater collaborative mode?

+ “Parish Council Meeting”

It will be held on Wed. March 4th in the church Basement. Sr. Mary Paul, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, will present the “Role and function the Board of limited Jurisdiction” that we are going to adopt for our “St. Therese School” for the Academic Year 2009-10. See the attached Agenda.

+ “Fish Fry” and “Stations of the Cross”

Our first appointment will be on Fri. March 6th at 6:00:pm. We need:

1. Volunteers to clean, chop, cook, serve and clean-up on Friday morning.  See the sign-up sheet in the Church basement.
2. There will be a recommended donation as you pick up your plates. It goes to cover up expenditures
3. Would you consider donating some food ( Sea-food, Noodles, pasta, olive-oil, peeled or crashed tomatoes etc)? You can deliver it at the rectory during the week.
4. There is a symbolic “suggested donation” of $7.00 (adults) and $4.00 (kids) which will be collected as you get your plates. 

+ Monies:

Last Sunday Collection                                                                           $ 1,470.66
Cardinal Annual Appeal                                                                          $   524.00
Hospitality                                                                                               $     53.00
Mandarin Group Mass                                                                            $    300.00

I wish you all a joyful “Lenten Season”