We are collecting Palms from last year to be burned. Please bring to the Church or the Parish office.

Transcription

1 1 From the Heart of Fr. Jim March 10, 2019 First Sunday of Lent We are collecting Palms from last year to be burned. Please bring to the Church or the Parish office. Today we offer prayers for Ray Buchannan who will be signing the Book of Elect and making his intention known that he wants to be Catholic and a part of our parish family. Please pray for him and welcome him as he prepares to receive the Sacraments at Easter. He will go today to meet 530 other men, women and children who will also enter the Church at Easter from throughout the Diocese. In addition, Larry Henry and Bridget Thompson from St. Joseph in Stigler will also be entering the Catholic Church. Please pray for them as well throughout Lent and beyond. On February 23 rd, we welcomed our newest member into the Church at I C: Nicolas Gonzalez, son of Oliverio and Carmen Gonzales was baptized here! Congratulations! Also on March 2 nd, 2019, we celebrated the Quinciñera of Ashley Felipe, and the presentation of Martha and Reyes Salvador here at I C. Congratulations on your presentation and Happy belated Fifteenth birthday! In the vestibule of the Church, there is a box with blessed candles that have bee used by the church. Each candle costs $1. Please place money in envelope taped to the box. On Saturday, March 23 rd from9 until Noon, we have a workday in the Church. There are kneelers that need to be fixed, screws tightened and a few other projects as well.. If you are able to come and help that day, please let Al Alldredge know. Many hands make light work.

2 2 Today we will continue talking about the Diocesan Faith and Works Campaign, an annual event to raise money for the Diocese operations. Here are the totals for the Faith and Works Campaign: Immaculate Conception: $4,420; St. Elizabeth: $1,281; St. Joseph: $1,164. The Black books are available for families to take home and celebrate Lent by reading and meditating about God for 6 minutes a day. They are also available in Spanish On Friday s we will have 6 PM Mass, Stations of the Cross and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Church. Following Benediction, we will have a soup supper in the Parish Hall. On each Friday of Lent, except Good Friday. A donation basket will be available each week with the money going toward the Restroom Building project. We are also collecting donations for Easter Lilies. The suggested donation is $20, please place in the envelope marked Lilies and place in the collection basket. If you want to have them in memory of someone or for an intention, please mark on the envelope who the Lilies are for. Please continue to check the web site for more information and updates that may not be listed here. Please remember that the Sacraments of Baptism and Matrimony, along with Quincineras, and Presentations require classes and meetings prior to the celebrations. It is a good idea to discuss with Fr. Jim BEFORE making dates or plans. Have a blessed, safe and holy week.

3 3 Catholic Charities had a need each week for various food pantry items. For this week gently used plastic bags and personal hygiene products are needed. March theme: Virtue of Mortifications for March 7 th : One of the things that keep us at a distance from perfection is, without a doubt, our tongue. For when one has gone so far as to commit no faults in speaking, the Holy Spirit Himself assures us that he is perfect. And since the worst way of speaking is to speak too much, speak little and well, little and gently, little and simply, little and charitably, little and amiably. St. Francis De Sales. St. Ignatius Loyola governed his tongue so well that his speech was simple, grave, considerate, and brief. St. John Berchmans was a man of few words, and so considerate in his speech that there was never heard from his mouth an idle word, on contrary to rule, one that was neither necessary, useful, nor directed to any good purpose. Being once asked by a brother novice how he managed never to commit a fault in speaking, he replied thus: I never say anything without first considering it, and recommending it to God, that I may say nothing which can displease Him. Besides, he was never observed to violate silence and when asked how he could keep this rule so perfectly, he answered: :This is the way I do: I salute humbly all those I meet; if anyone asks any service of me, I show the greatest readiness to render it; if anyone asks me a question, I listen, and answer briefly; and I avoid saying a single superfluous word.

4 4 St. Vincent de Paul made himself so completely master of his tongue, that useless or superfluous words were rarely heard from his mouth, and never a single one inconsiderate, contrary to charity, or such as might savor of vanity, flattery, or ostentation. It often happened that after opening his mouth to say something unusual that came into his mind, he closed it suddenly, stifling the words and apparently reflection in his own heart, and considering before God whether it was expedient to say them. He then continued to speak, not according to his inclination, for he had none, but as he felt sure would be most pleasing to God. When anything was told him which he already knew, he listened with attention, giving no sign of having heard it before. He did this to mortify self-love, which always makes us desire to prove that we know as much as others. When insult, reproach, or wrong of any kind was inflicted upon him, he never opened his lips to complain, to justify himself, or to repel the injury; but he recollected himself, and placed all his strength in silence and patience, blessing in his heart those who had ill-treated him, and praying for them. When he found himself overwhelmed with excessive work, he did not complain, but his ordinary words were: Blessed be God! We must accept willingly all that He deigns to send us. St. Aloysius Gonzaga, when about to converse with anyone, fervently repeated this prayer: Pone Domine, custodia ori meo Set a watch, O Lord, before my lips. A certain virgin once observed silence from the Festival of the Holy Cross, in September, until Christmas, with such rigor that in all that time, she did not speak one word. This mortification was so pleasing to God, that it was revealed to a holy soul,

5 5 that as a reward for it, she should never pass through Purgatory. Among the lofty eulogiums that St. Jerome bestows upon his pupil St. Paula is this that she was as cautious in speaking as she was ready to listen. March 2019 CALENDAR Sat 9 th : Sun 10 th : Tues 12 th : 9 to 11 Confessions at I C 3:30 Confession 5 Pm Mass 8:30 Confession 9 am Mass at Immaculate Conception 12 Noon Mass at St. Elizabeth 1 Pm Scripture Study 5 PM Mass with Distribution of Ashes at St Joseph 6 PM Stations at St. Joseph 7 pm Soup Supper At St. Joseph 6 PM Soup Supper at St. Elizabeth 6:45 PM Stations of the Cross at St. Elizabeth Fri 15 th : No 8 AM Mass 6 PM Mass at I C 6:30 Stations of the Cross 7:30 PM Soup Supper in Hall at I C Sat 16 th : Sun 17 th : 3:30 Confession 5 Pm Mass 8:30 Confession 9 am Mass at Immaculate Conception 12 Noon Mass at St. Elizabeth

6 6 2 PM Spanish Mass at I C 5 PM Mass at St Joseph 6 PM Stations at St. Joseph 7 pm Soup Supper At St. Joseph Tues 19 th : Thurs 21 st : 6 PM Soup Supper at St. Elizabeth 6:45 PM Stations of the Cross at St. Elizabeth 6 PM Lenten Confession at Immaculate Conception with 2 priests Fri 22 nd : No 8 AM Mass 6 PM Mass at I C 6:30 Stations of the Cross 7:30 PM Soup Supper in Hall at I C