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  Articles featured this week:

Some Things to do for the Third Week of Lent
As We Celebrate the First Scrutiny
Additional Time of Reconciliation
Fast and Feast
Upcoming Events to Keep in Mind

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Some Things to do for the Third Week of Lent

· Be a shoulder to cry on

· Expand your horizons—attend a lecture

· Be patient with others

· Refuse to gossip

· Refuse to whine

· Readily forgive anyone who hurts you

· Surprise yourself

 

As We Celebrate the First Scrutiny

A major focus during Lent are the final preparations of our Elect (catechumens, who will be baptized, and candidates, who will make their profession of faith) for the celebration of the Easter Vigil, when they will be received into the Church. Their preparation deepens beginning this weekend, the Third Sunday of Lent, as we participate in the First Scrutiny with them. 

The First Scrutiny, which we celebrated at the 5:00 PM Mass on Saturday, centers around the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. This gospel and its accompanying readings were proclaimed at the Saturday evening Mass. The other “non-scrutiny” Masses will hear the cycle C gospel readings from Luke and their accompanying readings.

The First Scrutiny focuses on the thirst for Living Water—the water of baptism. In each scrutiny, we pray for and with our catechumens (who will be baptized at the Easter Vigil) and our candidates (those who are already baptized Christians who will make their profession of faith), asking God to help them to uncover and heal whatever is sinful and weak within them, and we ask God to bring out and strengthen what is good, upright, strong and holy. What we pray for them, we also pray for  ourselves, that we, too, may resist the temptation of sin and Satan, to grow stronger in our life with Christ.

Each scrutiny is a challenge to our entire parish community to embrace the spirit of self-searching and conversion. The scrutinies remind us of the seriousness of the Christian life and inspire us to turn from evil and pursue good.

 

Additional Time for Individual Reconciliation

With everybody’s busy schedules, I know coming to reconciliation on a Saturday afternoon can be a challenge. That’s why, as in years past, I’ve scheduled additional time for individual reconciliation (confession) on Tuesday    evenings for Lent, beginning Tuesday, February 23, 7:00 to 8:30 PM. This is in addition to the usual time for individual reconciliation (confession) on Saturday afternoons from 3:30 to 4:30 PM.

Lent is a perfect time to make the time to receive this sacrament of God’s mercy and healing. Please note that this additional time for reconciliation is for the season of Lent only.

 

Fast and Feast

Lent is a time to fast and feast. This week:

Fastfrom apparent darkness

Feast on the reality of light

 

 

Upcoming Events to Keep in Mind

The days of Lent move quickly. Please keep the following parish events in mind, as they will be here more quickly than we think:

· March 20: Parish Paschal Dinner

· March 25: Communal Reconciliation

· March 29:  Shroud of Turin display

· April 1: Holy Thursday and Food for the Poor collection all day

· April 2: Good Friday and Food for the Poor distribution

· April 3: Easter Vigil

· April 4: Easter Sunday

Consult our parish Lenten guide as well the parish website for more details.

 

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