Mass & Distribution of Ashes

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1 Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time March 2, 2014 Ash Wednesday A Day of Repentance, Fasting, Abstinence, & Prayer Mass & Distribution of Ashes St Augustine 9 am, 12 noon (Latin), 7 pm St Mary 12:10 pm Remember, you are dust, and to dust you will return. Genesis 3:19 What are Fasting & Abstinence? Fasting means only one full meal may be eaten that day. Two snacks that do not add up to a full meal also may be eaten. On Days of Fasting, fasting is required for Catholics between the ages of 18 and 58, except for pregnant or nursing mothers or for other health reasons. Fasting is a time-tested way of focusing in prayer. *Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are Days of Fasting. Abstinence means meat and poultry may not be eaten. Another sacrifice may be substituted if you already do not eat meat or poultry, or for health reasons. On Days of Abstinence, abstinence is required for Catholics 14 years and older. Abstinence is the traditional reminder and expression of repentance. *Ash Wednesday, all Fridays in Lent, and Good Friday are Days of Abstinence. Operation Rice Bowl is the Catholic Relief Services Lenten faith-in-action program uniting us with our most vulnerable brothers and sisters through the Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Journey through the Forty Days of Lent with the Daily Prayer Reflections in the Lenten Calendar; fast and offer small gifts to fill your Rice Bowl; read Stories of Hope of lives that have been changed. Pick up your Rice Bowl Lenten Calendar and Rice Bowl in church today, or in the days ahead, or download today the free Rice Bowl Mobile App online from crsricebowl.org to get daily reflections for Lent, track your Lenten sacrifices, and get recipes for Lent wherever you go! Lent starts next Wednesday, March 5. holy Spirit & Prayer The Holy Spirit led us into the aisles last weekend as we spread out in every direction in the middle of Mass! to browse and pick up new ideas for growing a deeper prayer life during the 40 Days of Lent. Our first Prayer Fair was the work of many dedicated parishioners: a heartfelt thanks for all your labors. Prayer ideas and resources are still available in the Parish Hall, while supplies last. ~ Father Paul Prayers of Thanksgiving Thank you to all who donated enthusiasm, energy, and items for our Prayer Fair. A special thank you to Fr. Paul for his homilies on prayer leading up to his shopping spree homily at the Fair. We hope everyone found at least one new way to grow closer to God through prayer this Lent. ~ Barb Dumit Connect with Father Paul ppluth@staugustineoh.org Facebook Twitter

2 E V E N T S & A N N O U N C E M E N TS March 6: Youth Stations of the Cross at 5:00 pm in the Church and Lent Soup Supper at 5:45 pm in the Parish Hall. March 8: Steak Dinner to benefit the charitable works of the Oak Harbor Knights of Columbus. $10/person, $5/kids under 12. 6:00 pm in the Parish Hall. March 9: The Faith Mobile from the Alleluia Catholic Bookstore will be in the parking lot from 9 am - 1:30 pm. They will have books, First Communion items, tapes, DVD s, and other religious items for sale. March 11: ACCW, Northern Deanery, will be meeting in Arlington at 10:00 am. Please bring a white elephant item for the auction. Car pooling will be available. For more information call Pat McGregor, March 15: St. Patrick s Day Dinner from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, $5/person in the Parish Hall. March 24: Our Triduum Choir has openings for seasonal singers for Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil. Rehearsals will be held on Monday evenings: March 24, March 31, April 7, and April 14, 6:30 pm 8:30 pm in the Church. Need to attend all rehearsals to sing for these Masses. Contact Mary, To submit names of people who are in need of prayers, please contact the parish office at to have the names published in the parish bulletin. For all who are ill, needing surgery, or are recovering from surgery. The Parish is purchasing new hymnals. All of the hymnals will provide the music and the readings. Please consider memorializing a hymnal in memory of a loved one. Hymnals also may be donated in honor of an individual or of a family event, such as a baptism, special birthday, or another celebration - maybe even as a gift for someone special. The donor and the person being honored are recognized on a special memorial plate in the front of each book. (see picture). This is a wonderful way to remind us to pray for someone. And not only would you be praying for this individual, but also would anyone who opens that hymnal to see that individual s name. The cost to memorialize a hymnal is $20. Please see insert for more information. Diana Hinshaw, Jill Reed Geraldine Kemp, Kate Rosenthal Lord, Hear Our Prayer Sun T h i s w e e k a t S t. A u g u s t i n e M a r c h 2-8 Mon Tues Wed 8:00 am Mass (Our Parishioners) 9:00 am Pancake Breakfast 9:30 am Mass (Francis Wolfe Jr., RIP, Frediricio Alemania, RIP) 9:30 am RE Kindergarten, CR4 11:00 am Latin Mass (Madeleine Hedeen, RIP) 6:30 pm RE 12th grade, CR1/2 9:30 am Bible Study, CR2 11:30 am Walking Group 5:00 pm Agape, parish hall 6:00 pm Bible Study, CR2 6:30 pm Choir Rehearsal, church 6:30 am POETS, church 10:00 am Meditation Group, CR1 4:45 pm Exercise Group, parish hall Ash Wednesday 9:00 am Mass 10:00 Adoration, church 10:00 am St. Maria s Guild, CR1 12:00 pm Latin Mass 4:00 pm RE 1-5, PH/CR 6:30 pm RE 6-11, PH/CR 7:00 pm Mass Thu Fri Sat 3:00 pm RCIA-C, CR1/2 4:00 pm Faith Formation, PO 4:45 pm Exercise Group, PH 5:00 pm Stations of the Cross 5:45 pm Soup Supper 6:30 pm RCIA, CR 1/2 7:30 pm Adoration, church 9:00 am Mass (Madeline Tufaro, RIP) 9:30 am Stations of the Cross 10:00 am 1st Friday Reception, PH 4:00-4:30 pm Confessions 5:00 pm Mass (Danny Ochoa Sr., RIP) 6:00 pm K of C Steak dinner, PH Daylight Savings Time begins next Sunday, March 9th. Turn your timekeepers ahead an hour on Saturday evening. Ushers Needed We are in need of Ushers for the Triduum Masses. If you are interested please call the parish office Weekly Parish Expenses: $10,853 Stewardship total for February 23rd: $7,343 Thank you for your gifts!

3 LENT, TRIDUUM, EASTER SUNDAY 2014 P L E A S E S A V E T H I S F L Y E R F O R F U T U R E R E F E R E N C E LENT: A JOURNEY FROM BAPTISM TO EASTER During the 40 Days of Lent, while individuals around the world enter their final preparations for their Baptism at the Easter Vigil on Easter Eve including two people in our parish baptized Christians prepare themselves for their Renewal of Baptismal Promises at the Easter Masses. When we were baptized, we died and rose with Jesus in the waters of Baptism, and embarked upon our new life and friendship with Jesus. Now, every Lent, we ask ourselves: What does it mean for me to be a baptized Christian? We use the 40 Days of Lent to recommit ourselves to taking up our personal crosses every day of our lives, and following Jesus as Teacher, Savior, and Friend. That recommitment culminates on Easter, at Mass, when we will renew our promises made at Baptism, promises to walk in new life with Jesus and serve him in those we meet on the way. How do we accomplish this recommitment during the 40 Days of Lent? By making use of the Four Disciplines of Lent: Repentance, Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving (Works of Charity) [Matthew 4:17; 6:2 18] Repentance lays claim to the grace God poured out on us at our Baptism, washing away our sins. When we follow the path of Repentance for example, by taking part in a Lenten Penance Service we are restored to the sinlessness and innocence before God that he gave us in our Baptism. Prayer puts us back in touch with the Father, whom we may not have spoken with in the past months as often as we d like. Prayer builds our friendship with Jesus, because friends talk things over. By placing all things in the hands of God through Prayer, we relearn to trust God and walk in faith. By our prayers, we also come to the aid of our brothers and sisters, growing in compassion for them as we carry out the ministry of prayer for the world. Fasting, either by doing without something we like to eat ( giving up something for Lent ) or by letting go of destructive forces in our lives (such as fasting from anger, or fasting from self-hatred), sets us free for God. Through fasting, like an athlete in training, we uncover the spiritual strength God has given us. We discover that the things we are fasting from are not in charge of us only God is! No wonder the time-tested experience of Christians has been that fasting is a profitable way of increasing our focus in prayer. Almsgiving (Works of Charity) takes us out of ourselves, making us grow more like Jesus, who gave all he had for us. Charity tears down those things that divide us from our brothers and sisters. Charity, love, is sharing with the one we love in all things. Love makes us similar, it creates equality, it breaks down walls and eliminates distances. God did this with us. (Pope Francis) The worldwide theme for Lent 2014, announced by Pope Francis, is Though Jesus Christ was rich, yet for our sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. [2 Corinthians 8:9] The poverty of Jesus Christ is his way of loving us, his way of being our neighbor. Christ s poverty which enriches us is his taking flesh and bearing our weaknesses and sins as an expression of God s infinite mercy to us. Christ s poverty is the greatest treasure of all. As we make use the disciplines of Lent to recommit ourselves to following Jesus, we will rediscover this treasure and experience the joy of giving it away to our brothers and sisters. In this way, when our Lenten journey ends, we will find out we have a richer life to give back to God as our Easter offering. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 5, and ends with the Evening Mass of the Lord s Supper on Holy Thursday, April 17.

4 P a g e 2 L e n t - T r i d u u m - E a s t e r S u n d a y F a s t & A b s t i n e n c e R e g u l a t i o n s Abstinence and Fasting are spiritual disciplines Catholics are obliged to practice during Lent. ABSTINENCE Ash Wednesday, and every Friday of Lent including Good Friday, are Days of Abstinence. Catholics 14 years and older are not to eat meat and poultry on these Days of Abstinence. Vegetarians, Vegans, and others who customarily do not eat meat and poultry, should choose another sacrificial practice on Days of Abstinence. FASTING Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, are Fast Days. Catholics 18 to 58 years old are bound to the spiritual obligation to fast on these two days. On a Fast Day, one full meal is allowed. Two smaller meals, or snacks, may be taken but are not to equal a full meal. Pregnant and nursing women, and those in ill health, or for other reasons, e.g. diabetes, are not bound by the obligations of abstinence and fasting. They are urged to substitute another form of self-denial suitable to their condition. Christ Died for Our Salvation on Friday For this reason, Friday itself remains a special day of penitential observance throughout the year, not only during Lent. Friday should be to each week what Lent is to the entire year It would bring great glory to God and good to souls if Fridays found our people doing volunteer work in hospitals, visiting the sick, serving the needs of the aged and the lonely, instructing the young in the Faith, participating as Christians in community affairs, and meeting our obligations to our families, our friends, our neighbors, and our community, including our parishes, with a special zeal born of the desire to add the merit of penance to the other virtues exercised in good works born of living faith. Penance & Abstinence, 1983, US Bishops A s h W e d n e s d a y The wearing of ashes is meant to be a sign of our inward conversion Ash Wednesday, March 5, is a day of Repentance and Conversion. Ashes, the ancient sign of that repentance and conversion, will be blessed and distributed at Mass at 9 am (St Augustine) 12 noon (Latin, St Augustine), 12:10 pm (St Mary) and 7 pm (St Augustine). The ashes come from the palm branches blessed on the preceding Palm Sunday to show how fleeting are the honors of this world. Also, the wearing of ashes can be a way to quietly evangelize your places of work and neighbors. I well remember the Ash Wednesday when one TV news team reported the news on air, each one wearing ashes.

5 O p e r a t i o n R i c e B o w l As part of our faith community s Lenten observance, we will participate in Catholic Relief Services Lenten program Operation Rice Bowl. For thirty-eight years, ORB has inspired Catholics in the United States to pray, fast, learn and give as we increase our understanding of our global community and connect that with the principles of Catholic Social Teaching throughout our Lenten journey. We encourage you to participate in Operation Rice Bowl at home with your family and loved ones. Rice Bowl Lenten Calendars and Bowls are available in the church. NEW! Download the free Rice Bowl Mobile App for your mobile device, and find more information, on their website crsricebowl.org. P a g e 3 S t a t i o n s o f t h e C r o s s P a r i s h S o u p S u p p e r s The Stations of the Cross are prayed at St Augustine on Thursdays in Lent at 5 pm, and at St Mary on Tuesdays in Lent at 5:30 pm. The Stations at St Augustine are led by the youth of the parish, and the Stations at St Mary by a variety of parishioners. At both St Augustine and St Mary, the Stations are followed by our Parish Soup Suppers. Please bring your own bowl and spoon. Stations of the Cross also are prayed at St Augustine on Fridays in Lent after the 9 am Mass. We adore you O Christ and we praise you. S a c r a m e n t o f P e n a n c e ( C o n f e s s i o n ) i n L e n t Two Lenten Penance Services will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 19, at 2 pm and 6:30 pm, at St Augustine Church. Confessors will be available for every sort of sin and sinner! Inner Satisfaction and Peace of Heart and Mind Guaranteed! Confessions are heard at St. Augustine every Saturday, 4:00 4:30 pm. Confessions are heard at St. Mary every Sunday in Lent, following the 11:15 am Mass.

6 R C I A i n L e n t In the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA), those who are unbaptized prepare to enter the Catholic Church through Baptism. At some point in their RCIA journey they have been accepted into the Order of Catechumens. In Lent, those Catechumens who will receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil begin their final preparations. At the start of Lent they participate in the Rite of Election. The bishop, in the name of the Church, announces the names of those Catechumens who will receive the Easter Sacraments, and their names are written into the Book of the Elect of the Archdiocese of Seattle. With that, they become the Elect. Our parish Catechumens, with family members, sponsors and other parishioners, will celebrate the Rite of Election with Bishop Eusebio Elizando at St Joseph Center, Mt. Vernon, on March 7. Then, on the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays of Lent, the Elect will present themselves at the Vigil Masses for the Scrutinies. In the Scrutinies, our parish prays for our Elect, that in preparation for Easter Baptism they will be purified from sin and strengthened in their resolve to follow Jesus Christ just as the Samaritan woman, washed clean from sin, found Jesus to be the Water of Life (Gospel of the 3rd Sunday of Lent), the man born blind, given his sight, found Jesus to be the Light of the World (Gospel of the 4th Sunday in Lent), and Lazarus, raised from the dead, found Jesus to be the Resurrection and the Life of the World (Gospel of the 5th Sunday of Lent). T h e T r i d u u m The Triduum the Three Days that are One Day marks the Passion, Death, and Glorious Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Triduum is one continuous feast, beginning with the Evening Mass of the Lord s Supper on Holy Thursday and concluding with Easter Sunday. Our life as Christians flows out of the events of the Triduum, the Paschal (Passover) Mystery in which the world passes over with Jesus from death to life. Join us on the Triduum journey, at these liturgies: Holy Thursday, April 17, Mass of the Lord s Supper, 7 pm at both St Augustine and St Mary. At both churches, the Washing of Feet, at Jesus command, takes place during the Mass. Please bring your Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl offerings for the Procession of the Gifts. At the end of Mass at both churches, we will carry the Blessed Sacrament in procession to the Altar of Repose in the parish halls the sign of the arrest and powerlessness of Jesus, delivered into the hands of sinners for our sake. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Holy Thursday continues until 10 pm. Adoration is a time to spend with Jesus who is present to us in the Blessed Sacrament, as we stay with him one hour, recalling the watch in the Garden of Gethsemane. [Matthew 26:40] Good Friday, April 18 (Day of Fast & Abstinence), St Augustine, Stations of the Cross, 3 pm, to mark the hour of the death of Christ, followed by Celebration of the Passion of the Lord, 7 pm. This liturgy includes the Adoration of the Holy Cross and the distribution of Holy Communion. Good Friday is the only day of the year that Mass cannot be celebrated, because Christ, the Source of the Sacraments, enters into the mystery of Death. We depart in silence. St Mary, Celebration of the Passion of the Lord, 12:10 pm, Stations of the Cross, 3 pm. The Easter Vigil, April 19, 8:30 pm, St Augustine. We begin with the lighting of the Easter Fire in the courtyard between the church and the parish hall (in case of inclement weather, we begin in the hall). We recount the unfolding story of God s plan to save the world, climaxing in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We baptize and confirm our Elect, and all the baptized join in the Renewal of Baptismal Promises, the culmination of the Lenten journey. Easter Sunday, April 20, St Augustine, Easter Mass, 8 am, 9:30 am, 11 am. St Mary, Easter Mass, 11:15 am. The Renewal of Baptism Promises, the culmination of the Lenten journey, is celebrated at all Masses.

7 St. Augustine Lent Soup Suppers Every Thursday at 5:45 pm Following the Stations of the Cross March 6th - April 10th Bring your bowl and warm your heart with soup made by loving hands. Sign-up sheets to make soup will be located in the parish hall.

8 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Ash Wednesday March 5 6 Start a prayer book 7 It is our Christian 8 Lent is the liturgical season of forty days which begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with the celebration of the Paschal Mystery (Easter Triduum). Lent is the primary penitential season in the Church s liturgical year, reflecting the forty days Jesus spent in the desert in fasting and prayer (Catechism of the Catholic Church). (a day of fast and abstinence) Wear ashes today as a sign that you are seeking both forgiveness and eternal life from Christ. The Bible teaches us to deny ourselves and give instead to those in need. Read Matthew 6:1-4 to learn more about sacrificial almsgiving. and record those for whom you pray or for what you pray. Also keep track of how God answers your prayers. responsibility to abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent as a form of penance penitential psalms in the special Lent collections, 15 After Mass today, go to breakfast with other parishioners from church. Read the seven Old Testament book of Psalms that express remorse for sins: 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130 and 143. Pope Benedict once said, We are not owners but rather administrators of the goods we possess. Find a way to share what you have. Grow in faith by believing that God is there for you. Pray about what worries you and know that God will take care of it. Support your parish s whether it is the Bishop s Lenten campaign, Operation Rice Bowl or a mission collection. 16 Go to Mass early so you can take a drive to visit a friend you haven t seen in a long time. Jesus was killed despite his innocence. Pray a Rosary for all unborn children so they don t suffer the same fate through abortion. Look for someone who has fallen on hard times and send an anonymous card with a cheering message and a grocery store gift card. Root out anger from your heart and bring in kindness. Do one small thing for someone today to show God reigns in your heart. When older people become less active, they can also become forgotten. Visit a senior you know, take one to lunch, and just listen. Attend a Stations of the Cross service if your parish offers one. If not read through them here: devotionals/stations-of-the-cross/index.cfm. 23 Make Sunday Lent is a demanding 29 special. Invite friends and neighbors over for a potluck brunch after Mass. Consider making today a day of fasting. When you feel hungry, remind yourself of those for whom hunger isn t a choice. Mother Teresa once said, there is a terrible hunger for love. The poor you may have right in your own family. Find them. Love them. Jesus taught us to serve others. Do one nice thing for someone today without the expectation of thanks or appreciation. Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, given to the world through St. Faustina to help repair the hurt caused by sin. Find it at time for parish priests. Call your parish office to offer extra support or help. 30 Go to a later Mass 31 1 April Show Jesus you 5 so you can wake up slowly, have a leisurely breakfast and enjoy a good book. Enjoy beauty. After Mass, stop by a store and pick up some flowers to cheer up your home. Spend time before the Eucharist in prayer and adoration. If there is no adoration chapel close by, find time when the church is open to be with Jesus. Ask St. Thérèse of Liseux to inspire you to show little ways of love to those around you today. God made Eve so that Adam would not be alone. What can you do today to be a good friend to someone? Deny yourself something you would like to buy. Then, give the money you saved to the poor. Perform Corporal Works of Mercy during Lent: feed the hungry, shelter homeless, clothe the naked, visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, give drink to the thirsty, bury the dead. Consider giving more time to God by volunteering in your parish. Take action to join the choir or become a lector, usher or Eucharistic Minister. are willing to carry your cross by tackling something difficult you ve been putting off. Evaluate your day. Did you add to someone s sense of peace today? Did you do anything to take peace away? Turn off the TV, computer, or other electronics for 30 minutes today. Offer this time to God in prayer or reading the Bible. Children are the future of the Church. Explore ways to support your parish religious education program or youth group Add prayer to your day 15 Pray today and each Today is Good Friday, 19 Use your Palm Sunday palms to make a cross to place in a prominent area in your home or car. by praying the Rosary or Chaplet of Divine Mercy during your commute today, while waiting in line, or during your lunch hour. Lent 2014 day this week for the catechumens coming into the Church at the Easter Vigil. Pray for someone you know who is facing a challenge. Early Christians visited seven basilicas in Rome on Holy Thursday as a pilgrimage. Make a pilgrimage to churches in your area today. a day of fasting and abstinence. Read and compare all four Gospel accounts of the passion and death of Jesus. Choose for your Lenten sacrifice something that will truly challenge you. The season of Lent is solemn. Read Matthew 26 and 27 to gain a true understanding of the magnitude of Jesus sacrifice. To avoid sin, one must understand what God expects. Refresh yourself on the 10 Commandments in Genesis:20. Becoming more aware of sin helps to avoid it. Make a list of all you do today putting what would please God in one column and what wouldn t in another. Perform an examination of conscience and seek healing in the Sacrament of Reconciliation today. Light a candle to represent the light Jesus brought to the world. Let the light dwell in you by spreading the good news of salvation to others. Jesus suffered and died so that we would have hope. Today, make a list of everything for which you have hope in this life and the next. copyright 2014 Success Publishing & Media, LLC

9 This exceptional course about common principles of living was originally for teachers, and has now been adapted for students too. -YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU CAME- Date: Saturday, March 8, 2014 Time: Location: Life Principles Academy Pro-Life Training Conference 11:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m. St. Mary Parish, Fr. Auer Center 4001 St. Mary s Drive, Anacortes, WA Presented by: Camille Pauley -President, Healing the Culture -REGISTER ONLINE IN THE CONVENIENCE OF YOUR HOME- Cost: $39 (includes light lunch, free parking & useful materials worth $70) $15 for St. Augustine, Oak Harbor and St. Mary, Coupeville high school students and young adults to age 21. (Online - click on the student discount) Will give you the intellectual tools to help build a just and fair society where social justice and the rights of all are protected. Read a review of the 10 Principles at: Learn how to talk to your kids, colleagues, and cohorts about why you are pro-life using wit, logic and unassailable truth! Presented by: Hosted by: St. Mary s Respect Life Committee ONLINE Registration: (425)

10 M A R C H 2 ND, 8 TH S U N D A Y IN O R D I N A R Y T I M E PA S T O R A L C A R E FAITH MOBILE AT ST. AUGUSTINE MARCH 9, 9 AM-1:30 PM EVERYONE INVITED CATHOLIC GIFT STORE ON WHEELS Bibles * Catechisms * Children s Books Crucifixes * Rosaries * Books * Artwork Perfect for First Holy Communion, Baptism, Confirmation, Wedding Gifts GIVE A MEANINGFUL GIFT...GIVE A CATHOLIC GIFT QUIET DAY AT ST. MARY There is still time to join a small group this Lent. We still have room in Friday s 10:00am and 6:30pm groups Call If you or anyone you know is in need of the Sacrament of the Eucharist or the Sacrament of Anointing, let us know by calling the office An opportunity to have time for prayer, silence, and reflection during Lent At St. Mary, Coupeville on Saturday 29th March We will begin at 9:30 am and finish at 3:30 pm. Bring a Bible and a lunch.

11 Discovering hope and joy in the Catholic faith. March 2014 Catholic Community of St. Augustine and St. Mary Rev. Paul Pluth, Pastor Plunge into the desert during Lent St. Patrick Born in Scotland, St. Patrick was kidnapped as a teenager and brought to 5th century Ireland as a slave to a warlord. He worked as a shepherd for six years before he escaped. Back home, he became a priest and returned to the land of his captivity as a missionary. While many legends are told about him, it is enough to say that St. Patrick eventually became bishop of Ireland and is credited for having established the Church there. A hearty welcome Welcome is part of our Christian life. We are asked to extend a warm welcome to anyone who may be new or unfamiliar to our parish church. Jesus said, whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me (Matthew 10:40). Our choice I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of the wicked (Psalm 84:11). Humans are doers. When faced with a problem, we want to make a list, clean it up, or put on a fresh coat of paint. But during Lent, it s not enough to give up a favorite food or drink and call it a season. That s little more than a thin coat of paint. Lent is when we can do battle with sin in our lives, eliminate it, and greet Easter as creatures born anew. Do battle daily. Determination to avoid sin and embrace virtue is a war that requires daily battle. Start in Lent by committing to new prayer habits for morning, afternoon, and evening prayer. Stay faithful and you will be The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that our neighbor is someone whose origins we know and who deserves particular attention. This includes our relatives since they share our origins. Fellow citizens share rewarded by God s grace to begin to live differently. Escape distractions. God often sent his best prophets into the desert to prepare for important tasks he chose for them. Consider Lent your trip to the desert. There are minimal distractions in the desert no electronics, no fancy food, no daily concerns. Just you and God. Create a Lenten desert by removing as many distractions as are practical during the season. Take the long view. Life can be difficult and painful but it won t last forever. Life in Heaven will. Eliminate whatever you may have chosen to make this life bearable if it distracts from your goal of Heaven. How do we define neighbor"? residence in our country. Anyone who is baptized is a fellow child of our mother the Church and shares our spiritual origin. And every person is another child of God. By all these definitions, we are responsible for looking after anyone who needs our help or care. Copyright 2014 Success Publishing & Media, LLC

12 March 2014 Page 2 The Eucharistic Dance The celebration of Mass is not confined to our minds, hearts, and voices, but is meant to involve our bodies as well. Like a joyful dance, each posture is significant and has meaning. Standing. Standing is a sign of respect, so we stand when the celebrant representing Christ enters and leaves. We also stand for the Gospel, and the bishops of our country decided to have us stand when receiving the Eucharist. Kneeling. From the early days of the Church, kneeling has been a gesture of penance but more recently has come to show adoration. Thus we kneel for the Eucharistic prayer. Sitting. We sit for the pre-gospel readings and the homily in a posture of listening and meditation. Bowing. In our culture a bow usually expresses reverence and honor, and the bishops have decided that we are to bow before we receive Communion. Note: for more information ask your parish priest or refer to Postures and Gestures at Mass, available from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, (202) , God s power is so great that he can take ordinary materials like dirt and water and perform miracles. A blind man came to Jesus for healing and Jesus made a paste out of clay and saliva and spread it on the man s eyes. Then he encouraged the man to wash to cleanse the dirt from his eyes so he could see. Sometimes God makes us uncomfortable before revealing his truth to us. This miracle sent the Pharisees into a tizzy and this is how we can tell that they were false shepherds. Seekers of the truth ask questions sincerely, with a March 3 - St. Katharine Drexel (1955). A Philadelphia heiress, St. Katharine Drexel gave up her fortune to become a nun. She established 50 missions for Native Americans in 16 states and founded Xavier University in New Orleans, the first university for African-Americans in the U.S. March 4 - St. Casimir (1483). Born a prince of Poland, St. Casimir was endowed with a very strong conscience by a great teacher, John Dlugosz. When his father sent him to take over Hungary, fifteen-year-old Casimir John 9:1-41, A blind man sees the truth willingness to find God. The Pharisees were so anxious to hold on to their positions that they made silly conclusions such as, if this man were from God he wouldn t heal on the Sabbath. In fact, they led people away from Jesus a very serious error. The man believed in Jesus because he saw the truth and believed in it. When we seek God sincerely with a willingness to obey him, he will always lead us to the truth. assessed the odds against winning the war and turned back out of concern for his troops. He resolved never to be involved in war again. March 5 - Ash Wednesday. To mark the first day of Lent, ashes from the burnt palms of the previous Passion Sunday are blessed and placed on foreheads as a sign of penance. March 19 - St. Joseph (first century). Husband to the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph is a model of fatherhood and a protector of families. Who goes to Purgatory after death? Sincere repentance includes a desire to repair the damage done by our sins. That may or may not be complete before we die. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that, All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven (1030). The Church calls this final purification, Purgatory, since this is our last chance to be purged of our sins. There is suffering during this purification because the souls in Purgatory long to be with God, but there is also joy. Purgatory is a sure stepping stone to Heaven. What is important is that we recognize Jesus power over our eternity. When the world ends at the Final Judgment, there will be only two possibilities: Heaven or Hell. We who celebrate Jesus Resurrection look forward to sharing in that victory, and we pray that our loved ones may do the same. To provide practical ideas that promote faithful Catholic living. Success Publishing & Media, LLC Publishers of Growing in Faith and Partners in Faith (540) (540) fax (Unless noted Bible quotes and references are from the Revised Standard Version and the New American Bible) Copyright 2014 Success Publishing & Media, LLC

13 If you would like to memorialize a hymnal please provide the information on the form below. It is a likeness of the actual memorial plate that will be placed in the front of each book. Memorializing a hymnal is a wonderful way to remind us to pray for someone. And not only would you be praying for this individual, but anyone who opens that hymnal would see that individual s name, and could also offer a prayer for him or her. The cost to memorialize a hymnal is $20. You can place your Memorial donation along with the memorial plate information in your parish envelope, or in a blue and white envelope which are in the pews and at the parish office. Donation envelopes can be returned to the parish office, or in the offertory collection at our weekend liturgies. Please cut along the dotted line and include the memorial information along with your donation.