It's been awhile since we, as Catholics, have been asked to participate in a country-wide postcard campaign to encourage our elected officials to stand up and vote for legislation that promotes the values and beliefs that we Catholics (and others) hold dear.  Next weekend we will give you a chance to let your voice be heard in the areas of Life and Liberty by filling out three postcards before Mass and either mailing them yourself or letting us mail them for you. These cards will go to our United States Senators and our representatives in the House of Representatives.  It asks our elected officials to "support and strengthen laws that (1) prevent federal funding and promotion of abortion and (2) protect the rights of conscience in health-care."

Lent is not only a great season to grow in our faith, but also a time to profess what we believe at Church and in the world.  For those who will let us handle the mailing, we ask a donation of $1.00 to help pay for the postage for three postcards (which are $.33 a piece). 

Throughout my priesthood, I have experienced more than a few instances where parishioners have a relative whose health, mentally and physically, have deteriorated tremendously.  They (they family) feel torn about what to do and what to pray for.

Respecting life from the womb to the tomb means giving every person a quality of life as free from pain as possible until they breathe their last breath.  Fortunately we have much medical technology to help make this happen. Psychologically, many of us struggle between not wanting to let go of the person and desiring, because of our faith, that our loved one go and be in the Lord's loving merciful hands.

I currently find myself with mixed feelings about my 89 year-old uncle's situation of life.  While I want him to go to the Lord and pray that whenever he does, it happens as pain-free and peacefully as possible, I do want the doctors who are caring for him, to give him a chance to recover from his current situation and enjoy whatever life he has left in this world.  I am confident that this family experience that I'm having right now, will better equip me for future experiences I have of ministering to people and their families in similar circumstances.  I do thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers for my Uncle Paul, for me and for my family.  Now that we have him back from Japan and close by (UAMS Medical Center) does help relieve the stress I've had for the last two weeks when he was sick in a hospital in Japan. 

Each week our parish offers a few complimentary copies of each edition of the "Arkansas Catholic" newspaper on a table outside of Linda Daniel's office.  Some times I even find a few still on the table after the weekend Masses.  This past weekend it wouldn't have surprised me to see that all were gone after the Saturday evening Mass, as many people, especially Catholics, are looking for articles about the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and what will be happening in the aftermath of his decision.  No doubt we will see articles in the "secular media" about events and happenings surrounding this story, including of course, the conclave of Cardinals who will be meeting soon to elect a new Pope. The slant of the secular media is one reason why I look forward to reading about events before, during and after the new Pope is elected, in articles printed in the "Arkansas Catholic".

I encourage you to make the decision soon to subscribe to the "Arkansas Catholic" for at least a year.  (The cost is only $22 for seniors.)  There are subscription envelopes in your stewardship packet and in the pews at church.  This historic Papal action deserves our attention, and the "Arkansas Catholic" will help us to keep up with Church news at the local, state, national and international levels.  It is an "award-winning" publication for a reason.  See for yourself.