"Come back to me with all your heart" are words that we read and sing from the prophet Hosea. It echoes God's heart that wants us to experience the joy and peace of reconciliation. I hope and pray that we will all be led to the Sacrament of Reconciliation sometime soon. The opportunities to do so are many starting with our Lenten Reconciliation Service, this Thursday, March 29, at 6:15 p.m. Four visiting priests will join me in offering the sacrament to those who wish to receive it. I will also be available for the sacrament on Good Friday, April 6, from 10:00-11:30 a.m. and 1:00-2:30 p.m. Finally, I will be in the Reconciliation room every weekday through Wednesday of Holy Week after the 9:00 a.m. Mass until around 10:00 a.m. each day. This is one of the best ways to prepare ourselves for the celebration of the Paschal Mystery. Please don't let long absences from this great sacrament of peace and hope keep you from coming.
Many of you who read this Pastor's Corner will be doing so after the memorial of St. Patrick, and many of you have celebrated St. Patrick's Day in a variety of ways, including wearing something green. Some also celebrate through parades and parties. This special Feast Day is celebrated by those who have Irish roots and many others who do not.
I hope that ALL of us recognize the importance of the solemnity that we celebrate two days after St. Patrick's Day on March 19, that of St. Joseph, the husband of Mary and patron of the universal Church. We will be celebrating St. Joseph's Feast Day this coming Monday with Mass at 9:00 a.m. I encourage everyone to ponder this giant among saints who is part of the Holy Family and who is a powerful intercessor before the throne of God. St. Joseph is the patron saint of a "happy death" probably because there's a good chance that he died with Mary and Jesus standing over him with their love and prayers.
Joseph was a man of few words (and actually of no words as he is never quoted in the small section of the Gospels that mention him), and yet his faith, faithfulness and protection of Jesus and Mary make him a role model for all of us and a worthy "protector" of Holy Mother Church. By the way, the Mass for the solemnity of St. Joseph is one of only two Masses during Lent that has us sing the Gloria. It is definitely a liturgy and a day of celebration for people of all ethnic backgrounds who belong to the universal Church.
I hope that ALL of us recognize the importance of the solemnity that we celebrate two days after St. Patrick's Day on March 19, that of St. Joseph, the husband of Mary and patron of the universal Church. We will be celebrating St. Joseph's Feast Day this coming Monday with Mass at 9:00 a.m. I encourage everyone to ponder this giant among saints who is part of the Holy Family and who is a powerful intercessor before the throne of God. St. Joseph is the patron saint of a "happy death" probably because there's a good chance that he died with Mary and Jesus standing over him with their love and prayers.
Joseph was a man of few words (and actually of no words as he is never quoted in the small section of the Gospels that mention him), and yet his faith, faithfulness and protection of Jesus and Mary make him a role model for all of us and a worthy "protector" of Holy Mother Church. By the way, the Mass for the solemnity of St. Joseph is one of only two Masses during Lent that has us sing the Gloria. It is definitely a liturgy and a day of celebration for people of all ethnic backgrounds who belong to the universal Church.
Over the past 25 years of my priesthood, I have come to a greater and I believe, a deeper appreciation for the importance of the "Easter Triduum" which begins annually on Holy Thursday evening and only through the unique and special liturgies of those days, but also through the "retreat-like" setting of those days, we are renewed in our baptismal identity and calling as a Christian. I am also reminded of the gifts that Jesus gave us through the experience of His passion, death and resurrection, especially the gift of eternal life with Him. Over the next three Wednesdays, instead of showing a video after our soup and sandwich meal, I am going to give a presentation on the Triduum that I hope will inspire and encourage you to participate actively in the Easter Triduum which is coming up in less than a month (April 5-8). Please allow The Lord this time and space to touch your mind and heart through these presentations.