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. 

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.

As you know, I always have more than a few announcements to make at Mass.  I consider it a blessing to have such an active parish with so many activities going on, that it takes awhile to mention them and encourage participation in some, or all, of them.  This happens especially during the Lenten Season.  One thing I haven't mentioned at Mass yet, is the importance of taking advantage of Lent to begin some new "healthy" habits that hopefully will continue even after Lent is over.  One of these is bringing food to help feed the hungry in our area through the Jackson House.  Many are already in that habit, and to them I say, "Thank You".  I keep hearing from people who are working at the Jackson House as they see the food coming from our parish each week, (thanks to the efforts of some of our Men's Club members who deliver the food).  I ask and encourage those who are not bringing non-perishable food items to do so, at least during Lent. Almsgiving is one of the calls of Scripture and the Church during this sacred season.  Even bringing one item and putting in one of the bins outside church will help.  God bless you for all your efforts to respond to God's grace and grow as the Lord wants you to grow.