2nd Sunday of Lent – Year C
I craved four things as a teenager: success in sports, food, fun and the attention of popular people. However, I noticed that as I acquired them, I was more unsatisfied than before. So, I’d strive even more energetically, achieve more, and the sense of emptiness was greater still. These four things started to feel like burdens or even curses. Soon after, I encountered Christ in my high school youth group. Experiencing His love was totally different than anything those four things previously produced. It produced a lasting happiness. Jesus utters a kind of four-fold curse in this week’s Gospel of Saint Luke’s “woes”: “Woe to you who are rich…who are filled now…who laugh now…who are well-spoken of” (cf. Luke 6:24-26). How marvelous that these correspond perfectly to the four things that obsessed my teenage soul: riches, food, laughter and good reputation. The “woes” the Lord speaks are warnings: when those things are the purpose of your life, you’ll be miserable. He is saying, “You’ll be happy, or blessed, in the measure that these things do not determine the shape of our lives, and the kingdom of God does.” To some degree, we’re all spiritual teenagers, addicted to one or more of those four “woes.” How splendid that the Lord wants His to bless us — that is, to satisfy us, make us laugh with joy, and in the kingdom of God, offer us what will truly satisfy us. But first let’s admit what is causing our “woes.” — Father John Muir
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Continuing from last week,
Third Commandment: Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
This one is easy, it means to go to mass on Sunday (or Saturday evening vigil mass) and yes it means every Sunday no matter where you may be. The only excuse to miss mass on Sunday is illness and death. Kid’s sporting events is not a valid reason, being on vacation is not a valid reason for there is masstimes.org which tells you where and when the local masses are taking place. The only exception would be if you are on a cruise and no mass is being offered. If you miss mass, you have committed a sin – for the record funeral masses and wedding masses do not cover this obligation either. You miss mass, you committed a sin that needs to be confessed.
Fourth Commandment: Honor thy father and mother.
This one is more about respect, and it goes beyond your mother and father for it applies to all your older relatives and people in authority. It is respecting people’s titles and position in life. One example would be me as an uncle, no matter how old my nephews and nieces get I will always be their uncle and thus they should always show me respect. It is also me as a priest, when I am dealing with priests that have been priests longer than myself, I always speak to them with respect and yes, I call them Father even though I am one myself.
God Bless you and have a wonderful week, Fr. Michael
PRAYER FOR EVERYDAY AND EVERYBODY
Prayer of Listening – Attune the ears of my heart, Lord, to the soft and still ways You are inviting me today. And then give me the strength and courage to respond to what You say. Amen.
“I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as a possession.”
Just as the Lord gave Abraham, Moses, and the Israelites a land to possess, He has also given each of us a home. Whether your home is grand or humble, it is a gift from God. Abraham prepared a great sacrifice to the Lord in gratitude for the home God gave him. How do you show your gratitude to God for the home He has given you? Do you make a sacrifice of any kind? Do you return any of your finances to God, investing in your eternal home just as you invest in your earthly home?
PRAYER REQUESTS
That God will relieve their suffering and restore them to health. Please pray for Please pray for:Kellie Salata, Kelly Chinchar, Jessica, Daniel Breslin, Stanley, Helen Traina, Joseph Marrone, Bill Marshall, Anthony, Michael, Joseph, Jessica Esopo, William, Steve, Audra, Bernadette, James Weiss, Baby Ford, Rosemary Malangone, Elizabeth Malangone, Sue West, Danny, Colleen Emery, Richard, Joan Russo, Christina Martin, Mornia Evans, Valerie Valverde, Diana McGuckin, Manny Scarangella, Cheryl Prinjinski, Ron Barth, Stephen West.
ANNUAL APPEAL
The 2025 Annual Appeal is underway. We have $7,115 pledged towards our parish goal of $13,416. Thank you so much to those who have pledged already. We made our goal last year and we received a rebate check from the Archdiocese of $850 which is the amount raised above our goal. The outpouring of support from many parishioners like you helps sustain the important ministries that are described in the brochures that are in the back of church. If you have yet to give, please take a pledge envelope or visit www.rcan.org/sharing and be as generous as possible. Thank you for your prayers and support.
EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP – RECOGNIZE GOD IN YOUR ORDINARY MOMENTS
Where do you live? I live in North Carolina. There I pay taxes, own a home, and belong to a parish. North Carolina is in the United States, so I also abide by federal laws, pay taxes, and vote for candidates in all sorts of elections. I identify as an American and try my best to meet certain expectations placed on me by the government, state, and fellow Americans. I do certain things because of my identity. Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Our citizenship is in heaven.” Being a U.S. citizen living in North Carolina places certain requirements on me. How many of us “citizens of heaven” take seriously the expectations and requirements of that citizenship? Sometimes we act like nothing is truly required of us. Stewardship as a way of life requires us to take seriously what it means to be a citizen of heaven. We are called to follow the laws of the land we live in on this earth, but we are called to adhere to an even greater authority. Whether it be our call to act with charity and love or to follow the precepts of the Church, we must take seriously our status as citizen. Unfortunately, many don’t take seriously their citizenship on this earth either. People have given their very lives so that we may have the freedom to be citizens of our country and our state. Of course, many people have died for the citizenship of heaven as well. So it comes down to the question, who are you and to whom do you belong?—Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS
Devotions, Explained!
Examination of Conscience
In Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, the apostle writes that it is imperative for a Christian to reflect on his conscience before he partakes of Holy Eucharist: “Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup” (1 Corinthians 11:28). The practice of examining one’s conscience before seeking the Sacrament of Reconciliation thus dates to the very beginning of the Christian faith and was encouraged as a regular practice by many saints and founders of religious orders as a means of growing in virtue. An examination of conscience, when it relates to the sacrament, simply means reflecting on one’s actions (and particularly the intentions behind those actions) since the penitent’s last absolution, making note of lapses in judgment that should be confessed. A good basis for this reflection can be the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes and the seven deadly sins.
Devotions, Explained! – The Sign of the Cross
“I claim you for Christ by the sign of His cross.” These words from the Rite of Baptism, spoken as the priest traces a cross on the infant’s forehead, perfectly communicate the significance of that simple, familiar action. In signing the cross, we claim ourselves again and again for Christ, unite ourselves with His sacrifice on Calvary, and confess His victory over death. Christians have been making the sign of the cross since ancient times, as evidenced by writings from Tertullian, Hippolytus and St. Cyprian. The ritual action is not only an important component of formal liturgies and sacramental rites, but also a daily devotional practice whereby the faithful invoke the blessing and protection of God. In the Latin rite, it is made either with a movement of the full hand from
The gift of Bread & Wine for the first two weeks of March has been given in memory of Frank Pizza by the Pizza Family.
Please consider sponsoring our Bread & Wine, Altar Flowers, and the oil for the Sanctuary Lamp.
Opportunities for Parish Support
There are several ways you can help support our parish and honor loved ones at the same time. As you may have noticed on the first Sunday of every month in our bulletin, we thank the donors of our Altar Gifts. You can donate the Bread & Wine, Altar Flowers, or the Sanctuary Lamp in a two-week block for $50 in someone’s memory. We have blocks open for this year. We also need to purchase a new Easter candle each year (the tall candle on the altar) for $300-$400 which can also be donated in someone’s memory. You do not have to fund the entire amount, anything you wish to donate towards the purchase of our Easter candle is appreciated. We also have masses available for your intentions. If you wish to honor someone in any of these ways, please call the rectory.
Prayer for our Nation
God our Father, giver of life, we entrust the United States of America to your loving care. You are the rock on which this nation was founded. You alone are the true source of our cherished rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Reclaim this land for your glory and dwell among your people. Send your Spirit to touch the hearts of our nation’s leaders. Open their minds to the great worth of human life and the responsibilities that accompany human freedom. Remind your people that true happiness is rooted in seeking and doing your will. Through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, patroness of our land, grant us the courage to reject the “culture of death.” Lead us into a new millennium of life. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Praying the ROSARY
The Rosary is a meditation, a time to recall and think about the life of Jesus as seen and experienced by Mary. As the model of faith, Mary’s life sets a pattern that we strive to follow: saying ‘yes’ to God’s will in our lives and sharing His love and message with others. The Mysteries of the Rosary form a mini lesson of faith, using the highlights and significant moments of the life of Jesus. Like paging through a family scrapbook, we see in brief the events of salvation history that are the core of our belief and the hope of our eternal life.
OUR ADVERTISERS OF THE WEEK
WE NEED BULLETIN ADVERTISERS!!
We would like to thank all the advertisers who have supported us throughout the past year. Our parish benefits greatly from the ads you see in the bulletin. The revenue pays for the printing which is an important means of communication for the parish. If we do not have enough advertisers, the cost of our bulletin goes up. We thank the local businesses that advertise with us especially in these tough economic times. We have some spaces on the back of our bulletin that need filling so if you would like to advertise your business as well as benefit your church, please contact John Patrick Publishing at 1-800-333-3166.
Please support our advertisers at the back cover of bulletin.