From the desk of COMING UP AT ST. MARY S Father John KC Fish Fry March 4, 11 & 18 Mass of the Lord s Supper INSIDE THIS ISSUE: MORE FROM FATHER JOHN March 24 Good Friday March 25 Easter Sunday March 27 First Eucharist Retreat April 3 First Eucharist April 10 Spring Clean Up April 16 SOCIAL ACTION 3 MUSIC NOTES 4 BAPTISM, NEW MEMBER AND RICE BOWL RELIGIOUS ED 6 APPS FOR LENT 7 2 5 The Month of March is always one whose days pass within the Season of Lent. February often notes the opening of Lent as it did this past February with Ash Wednesday on February 10. Ash Wednesday can fall as late as March 10. This year the month of March will also note Easter Sunday, March 27 among its span of days. Easter can fall as early as March 22 or as late as April 25. This annual variance in the start of Lent and the celebration of Easter happens for the liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church has its roots within the lunar Jewish calendar. The date of Easter is set in the Roman Catholic calendar as the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. The equinox is when the sun is directly over the earth's equator, such that the hours of daylight and night darkness are equal in length of time. The spring (vernal) equinox falls on or between March 19 and 20. After the spring equinox daylight is greater in length than night darkness in our northern hemisphere until between September 22 and 23, when the fall (autumnal) equinox takes place as the sun is once again directly above the equator and daylight and night darkness are again of equal length. The Second Vatican Council restored and renewed the focus of our Lenten piety and devotion. Prior to the Council Lent was commonly viewed as a penitential season so as to increase one's standing in grace and virtue and as a time to pray the Sacrament of Penance to better prepare oneself for the celebration of Easter with the reception of the Eucharist. (continued on page 2) 1
Fr John (continued from page 1) With the Council's liturgical restoration and renewal Lent without losing its penitential character has now become a time of more foused immediate preparation for Catechumens now called the Elect to ready themselves through penitential practices for the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation, Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. For those already fully initiated and those baptized and admitted to the Eucharist, Lent is a time to recall and renew one's own Baptismal commitment through the penitential practices of fasting, prayer and alms giving, leading to the praying of the Sacrament of Penance and the renewal of one's baptismal vows and the reception of the Eucharist by which we mark our celebration of Easter. This emphasis on the preparation of the baptized in Lent for the renewal of their baptismal commitment has given again to the Sacrament of Penance the sense that through confession of one's sins, one is reclaiming the grace of salvation given to one in Baptism. This gives to the Sacrament of Penance a fuller and more positive appreciation. For one is not only recognizing and understanding one's sins with contrition, but one is again affirming their decision to reject evil and their decision to affirm God, grace and virtue. In this renewal of the Lenten Season the Elect prepare to receive the grace of salvation through Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist and the baptized renew their standing in the grace of their initiation through the Sacrament of Penance, a Sacrament of Second Baptism or Baptism claimed anew. As the Elect, Candidates for Full Communion with the Catholic Church and Candidates for Confirmation and Eucharist come to share in their rites of saving grace so may we the initiated share in our rites of saving grace, the Sacrament of Penance and Easter Eucharist. The Easter Season with its 50 days from Easter to Pentecost notes that our cause for rejoicing is even greater than our taking up of penance; for from Ash Wednesday to Easter is but 40 days. As our prayer and devotion calls us to sacrificial repentance in Lent, the Easter Season should be marked by our full participation in joyful celebrations of Eucharist, prayer, glad acts of hospitality and by reflecting on the Gospels' Good News of salvation. Grace and Peace, Fr. John 2
The Social Action Committee at St. Mary s supports parish opportunities for service and acknowledges and promotes the work that is being done in the areas of social justice and peace locally and throughout the world. Just as individuals are called to tithe, so we are called to tithe as a parish community. St. Mary s sets aside dollars every year and twice a year this committee distributes those funds. In November, the Well received $2,500 to assist in providing services in the Pella community. Crisis Intervention Services received $500 in response to their request for funds to purchase sweat suits for victims of sexual assault in twelve counties in Iowa, including Marion and Mahaska counties. At a global level, we sent $1,000 to Catholic Relief Services for relief for Middle East refugees. In addition, the proceeds of our November garage sale in the amount of $851.55 were sent to Samaritan s Purse, an organization also assisting refugees from the Middle East. We will be distributing funds again in the spring. If you are aware of an organization or project that we could consider, a grant application for funds is available on the Parish website. Current members of the Social Action Committee are Paul and Carol Weihe, Kell Vos, Janece Schmitz, Debbie Kissinger, Becky Cobb, and Val King. We meet the first Monday of each month at 5:30 at The Brew. Additional members are welcome! Please see bulletin to confirm time and place, *Excerpt from The Catholic Messenger, Feb25 2016* Pray Together: Lord, I am looking at my hands. Help me to see them as you do. When I am angry...make me calm. When I am frightened...make me strong. When I am greedy...make me generous. When I am sad...make me happy. Lord, teach me to give myself to you each day. Amen. God of mercy and compassion, be with us as we prepare for Easter, as we prepare to celebrate the love that Jesus showed for us in his dying on the cross and in his riding to new and eternal life. Help us to trust, and not to fear. Help us to receive your mercy and to be helped to say sorry. Help us to rejoice in your everlasting love for us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 3
Music Note Spring is in the air I just know it is!? Winter can seem like such a long season to me. I much prefer the sun s warmth and a cool breeze to clouds, snow and frost! But the one thing I love about Feb/March is LENT! Lent and Holy Week are my two favorite Liturgical seasons. Let s break it down music-wise. LENT: The music has a softer and merciful tone. I used to think it had to be all about penitential until I became more involved in the music of the church. Lent, music-wise is a time to let it reach deep into us, to help us discover just who we are in Christ Jesus. To realize we are NOTHING without our Savior. NOTHING but sinners without hope, mercy or healing. But, with Christ! Ah, there it is - with CHRIST, we are redeemed, loved and worth it! So the music you will be hearing though simple in instrumentation and chord progressions will be rich in the text of hope, mercy and healing. Laetare Weekend. The 4 th Weekend of Lent. Comes from: Laetare Jerusalem" ("O be joyful, Jerusalem") (from Isaiah 66:10, Masoretic text) Expect to hear joyful Lenten themed music from the Praise Band! Take a listen to ALL LENT music on our website in the Music Room Holy Week. Old Home Week This is what I call it at home! To me, this is where I am most excited to be! I feel the most comfortable and I get to experience in sight, sound, smell, our Catholic Church! Our Salvation history! Starting out with Palm Sunday weekend. LOVE this Mass coming in on a high Hosanna singing and ending with a heart aching Were You There. Children s choir will lead us Saturday night and Praise Band on Sunday. Again this year we will be combining with St. Mary in Oskaloosa our talents of music. Holy Thursday will be here in Pella and a combined Choir will be formed. And anyone interested in choir will be able to sing at Good Friday s service too! If this is something you have enjoyed in the past or for the first time this year you d like to join, PLEASE let me know and I ll make sure you know all about it! **Please note that Oskaloosa has invited all singers to join them in Easter Vigil music. This will be held at their church this year. Please contact me if you are interested in this as well. Wonderful time to celebrate and give your talent. For those of you traveling for Spring Break through Holy Week travel safe, go to church find new music for us, and be blessed! Blessings, Lynn 4
Baptism Welcome Smith Family! Baptism of Jayda Evelyn Weiler Parents are Joel and Nichelle with brother Landon God parents are Nathan Kruse and Megan Green Todd, Amber, Hunter, Isabella, Emma and Adelyn CRS Rice Bowl CRS Rice Bowl is a Catholic Relief Services faith-in-action program that helps parishes experience Lenten spirituality by helping people in need around the world. When you give to CRS Rice Bowl, 75% of your donation supports Catholic Relief Services programs around the world. Twenty-five percent of your donation stays in the Diocese of Davenport. In 2015, parish communities throughout the diocese collected $80,000, of which $20,000 was distributed in the Diocese of Davenport to address hunger and poverty. Table2Table is a food rescue program that used a $1100 grant for its program in Iowa City and Johnson County. Food for All is a community food program in Kalona that used Rice Bowl dollars for a summer lunch program. They believe in creating community so everyone eats and offer food along with opportunities for hospitality and socializing. Project Renewal provides healthy food options for low income families in the diocese through an after school and summer lunch program. Please include the CRS Rice Bowl on your 2016 Lenten journey in your prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Through the materials provided, this program puts a face on people throughout the world who face food challenges. Read about their stories and/or prepare a meal from one of the countries highlighted this year. Perhaps give up a favorite soda or latte and put the savings in your Rice Bowl. Watch the bulletin for information about turning in your Rice Bowls at the end of Lent. 5
This Year of Mercy is journeying forward quickly. There have been many things in front of us to help us celebrate and share this year. Each person must grab the things that we can do and ways we can personally celebrate this year. Can we get involved in the Catholic Worker meal, Pella Food Shelf, Faith Formation, KC s, The Well, Youth Activities, meal for someone who is sick or had surgery, and a wealth of other helpful activities? Each of us needs to take time to personally celebrate by reflecting with the Magnificat, reading scripture, taking daily time to pray, attend daily Mass, and/or reading a book that has a spiritual message. Keep in mind some of the upcoming activities which may also assist you, your family, and/or friends to journey through the Year of Mercy. First Eucharist will be celebrated on April 10 at the 10:30 a.m. Mass. There will be 19 students who will celebrate that morning. A cake reception will immediately follow to which everyone is invited. Confirmation will be celebrated on May 1 at the 10:30 a.m. Mass. There will be 10 students who will be confirmed by Bishop Amos that morning. Again a cake reception will immediately follow to which everyone is invited. Middle School students are invited to attend the Middle School Rally on April 10 at Regina in Iowa City. The theme for the day is Dare to Follow Me. What a great day of games, presenters, music, prayer, awesome people, Mass with Bishop Amos, and breakouts. Forms and more information are in the Religious Education Office. Youth, keep your eyes and ears open for upcoming summer activities: Catholics in Action, Union Vacation Bible School, Catholic Kids Camp, Lock-Ins, Mission Experience, and more! - Carol Laughlin 6
6 Catholic Apps YOU need for Lent Rice Bowl: helps you with all three pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting/abstinence, and almsgiving. Personal stories from those helped around the world are posted for your reading enjoyment. ibreviary: allows you to pray the Liturgy of the Hours and daily readings; advantages are the clean and easy to navigate design (that can be made to look like an old book if you want ); and the ability to download the hours in advance. Lentsanity: Daily Mass readings, reflections and blog posts. Includes an illustrated guide sections with easyto-understand info graphics explaining the basics of lent. Mass Times: type in the city, state or zip of your choice, and a list of close and available options pops up. Most churches list Saturday and Sunday Mass times, daily Mass times, confessions times and Holy Days Saint of the Day: Brief reflection on the Saint of the day, as well as a few paragraphs relaying their life story. Lurdate: Liturgy of Hours, the New American Bible, Interactive Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and much more. 7
St. Mary Catholic Church 726 218 th Place Pella, Iowa, 50219 We Pray in Thanksgiving for... RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Pella, Iowa 50219 Permit No. 305 March/April 2016 Lent/Easter Schedule Sat. March 5 Oskaloosa Communal Penance 10:30 a.m. Sun. March 6 Pella Communal Penance 2:00 p.m. Fri. March 11 Pella Mass 5:30 p.m. Fri. March 11 Oskaloosa Stations 5:30 p.m. Fri. March 18 Pella Stations 5:30 p.m. Fri. March 18 Oskaloosa Mass 5:30 p.m. Thu. March 24 Pella Holy Thursday 7:00 p.m. Fri. March 25 Oskaloosa Good Friday 3:00 p.m. Fri. March 25 Pella Good Friday 7:00 p.m. Sat. March 26 Oskaloosa Easter Vigil 8:15 p.m. Sun. March 27 Oskaloosa Easter Sunday 8:00 a.m. Sun. March 27 Pella Easter Sunday 10:30 a.m. Sun. March 27 Oskaloosa Easter Sunday 5:00 p.m. 8 Do you have something for our newsletter? Please send articles to Jasmine at jmeisenbarth@gmail.com. Deadline for the March/April newsletter is April 17.