While some would argue that this is NOT the best time in history to be living (especially with the general moral and spiritual decline in our country, and the violence that is happening to adults, children and babies in the womb), there are many blessings that perhaps we take for granted. One of these is a health care system that now can treat and even cure illnesses that not long ago were untreatable anf often caused certain death. In addition, we now have the means to lessen the suffering of people through medicines and treatments including physical therapy. From a religious perspective, I believe we should give thanks to God for advances and efforts to keep people's pain level as low as possible whether it be short-term, long-term or at the end of people's lives. Of course, our faith tradition is definitely against efforts to end some people's lives in the name of mercy towards them and their situation. Active and even passive euthanasia, and certainly physician assisted suicide go against our call to protect human life from the moment of conception until natural death. Our faith in Jesus Christ, who suffered greatly and willingly for us can (and I hope has or will) help us to persevere in mental, physical and/or emotional suffering that cannot be completely taken away by medicine, counselling or other means. We can and we should pray for healing and strength from God for ourselves or others who are suffering and also ask the Lord to help us and others join our suffering to that of Christ's suffering with the same confidence that Jesus had that the suffering he had to endure (especially through his passion and death) would be for some good! That's why the Lenten Season puts a special emphasis on praying the "Stations of the Cross" either individually or in community as we prepare for the commemoration of Jesus's "Paschal Mystery" during the Easter Triduum. Recalling and meditating on Jesus' suffering from the time of his trial and sentence of death by crucifixion to the moment he died on the cross, can help us and prepare us to persevere in any suffering we will have that cannot be taken away totally through man-made means. History is full of people who suffered without much if any pysical relief and who did so, not cursing God, but praising God and counting on God's help and Christ's example of patient suffering to persevere knowing that like Christ's suffering led to his eternal glory. OUrs, we trust, will have the same result beyond what we can imagine. We have two more community stations of the cross (March 24 & 31 at 6:00 p.m). and we always offer stations of the cross booklets for your individual use at any time.

I have a baseball cap that someone gave me that says "Man of Faith" on it. I haven't worn it all that much, but when I do it seems I'm much more conscious of what it says and means to me and hopefully to those who see it. It makes me think a little more before I speak to others and hopefully how I act toward others. We have a parishioner, Ed Doyle, who is our VIP for the month of March who, in my estimation, doesn't need to wear a hat because his words and actions say that he is a "man of faith", a "man of integrity" and a "man of action" in the name of Jesus Christ. Just recently he coordinated the parish men's retreat, which I have been told was a blessing to those men who took time to participate in it. Looking ahead, Ed is also coordinating the next Knights of Columbus Taste of Faith seminarian fundraising dinner here at Sacred Heart in July, which I'm confident will go well in large part because of his leadership. Ed has been the leader of our Knights of Columbus Council 10208 as its Grand Knight and the leader of our 4th degree Assembly as its Faithful Navigator. He and his wife, Paula (who is a past VIP) are Extraordinary Ministers of Communion at Mass and both have been faithful in the Ministry of Eucharistic Adoration since, I believe, its inception. In recent years, Ed stepped up when the need presented itself to be a faith formation leader for our young people in our REY program. Ed and his wife, Paula, have helped to welcome newcomers in our parish and inform them of what's happening here at Sacred Heart Parish as members of our welcoming committee. He has been a bible study group leader and participant as he seeks to grow in his faith and encourage others to do so. He has volunteered at Good Sam's and at Jackson House (which provides food and clothing for those in need of this help). Ed (and Paula) have been a blessing to our parish community (and to all who are helped thorugh our Knoghts of Columbus Council and Assembly) since they moved to the Village in 2002. At a time in his life when many people step back from activities (and ministries) Ed has shown and continues to give an example to us all thot our baptismal commitment is a lifelong calling amd commitment and something we can do in various ways until our physical and/or mental abilities prevent us from doing so. I can't think of a better person to have as our VIP for the Lenten Season that Ed Doyle. Thanks Ed, and firstly, thank the Lord for the gift that Ed has been and continues to be for us and for the honor and glory of God.

On Monday of the first week of Lent, the Gospel for the Mass of that day was Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus speaks of the final judgement at the end of time. He states that those who are to share in the joys of eternal life are the ones who recognize Christ in the hungry, the thirsty, those without adequate clothing, the homeless, the sick and those in prison, AND tend to their needs. Of course, we can respond (and hopefully are responding) to the needs of the first ones (the hungry, thirsty, etc.) in person or through our financial gifts to local agencies (and in Lent Catholic Relief Services-(Operation Rice Bowl). What about, however, visiting those in person? Unless you have a relative in a prison or are approved and go through the training to be allowed in to minister to prisoners on an ongoing basis, our options are few if any for visiting those in prison. That's where our support of the KAIROS prison ministry can fulfill Jesus's call to care about and for those who are imprisoned as if it were Jesus himself. Once we have come to the point (through God's grace) to have a merciful and Christ-like love for those in prison (as Pope Francis in his life and papacy has shown that he does) then we can visit and care for the imprisoned in a number of ways, including KAIROS. Briefly, KAIROS is an offshoot of the Cursillo spiritual movement that provides selected prisoners in a correctional institution the opportunity to participate in a Thursday through Sunday experience led by lay people who are trained to give spiritual talks, encourage discussion by these prisoners and be instruments of bringing (or strengthening) a relationship with Jesus Christ and a readiness to live as a faith-filled disciple of Christ in prison and whereever their life takes them. We are blessed to have Pietro Tomassi of our parish as one who is a presenter at these KAIROS weekends (which happen twice a year in March and September in the Ouachita River Unit in Malvern, Arkansas). Not only can these weekends be a life altering experience for all who participate (and graduate after the weekend ends) but there is opportunity for the participants to receive ongoing speiritual support from people like Pietro, and from each other through monthly evening "Pray and Share" meetings. Our social justice and charitable outreach commission has heard a longer and more complete presentation of KAIROS from Pietro, and has recommended (and I have agreed) for our parish to support the KAIROS ministry and, thusly, give us all the opportunity to "visit those in prison" with love, mercy and care in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!