6TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – JESUS HEALS THE INCURABLE!
Jesus continues in this week’s gospel with his healing ministry, through which he shows God’s love and preaches by his actions the Good News of salvation in the new reign of God. In fact, this particular ministry becomes so successful and widely known that Jesus encounter crowds wherever he goes, even when he is purposely remaining in desolate areas.
SEASON OF LENT STARTS THIS WEEK – ASH WEDNESDAY
Lent cannot be separated from Easter. Lent is a spiritual and prayerful preparation for the “great three days”, the Sacred Triduum of our Lord’s Death and Resurrection. It was exactkt that for the early Christians, and it is the same for us – a time for us to prepare our hearts and reflect more deeply on our baptismal call to continuing conversion to Christ and his way of life.
Ash Wednesday is a day we come to church to admit our human weakness and sinfulness. As we receive ashes, we hear, “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” Or, “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” This year because of the pandemic, the Vatican and the American Bishops have instructed us in parishes to use the symbol of ashes in a new way that minimizes personal contact. The priest blesses the ashes and then addresses all those present and only once says the usual formula noted above – “Remember you are dust…” Then the priest goes to the people coming up to receive ashes, and he takes the ashes and sprinkles them on the head of each one without saying anything. This form of receiving ashes is actually the way ashes were used in the early centuries of the church. So this year no nice ash crosses on our forehead, but just ashes dropped on top of our head. This is just one more adaptation caused by the corona virus. May this all end soon!
ASH WEDNESDAY MASSES – 8am and 6pm
Come and start your Lenten Season of prayer and penitence!
Ash Wednesday is always a day of fasting and abstinence – only one normal meal, no eating between meals, and no meat. All Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from meat.
TRADITIONAL LENTEN ACTIVITIES – PRAYER, FASTING, & ALMSGIVING
1.Prayer + Daily Mass, 8am Monday-Friday (Stations of the Cross after Friday 8am Mass)
+ Read and pray your Lenten meditation booklet sent in the mail to each member.
+ Attend our Lenten adult religious ed. Series on the Sacraments by Bishop Barron on Tuesdays 6:30pm or Thursdays at 1:30pm.
+ Attend Bible Study on Sunday Readings with Father Bob, Tuesdays 1:30pm or Thursdays 6:30pm.
- Fasting + Besides Ash Wednesday and Friday, choose an additional form of sacrifice to implement in your life to show the Lord we are repenting of our sins.
- Almsgiving + Take home a Lenten “Rice Bowl” to use regularly during Lent to make an offering to help the poor and needy through Catholic Relief Services.
+ Contribute to next Sunday’s second envelope collection for the Black and Indian Missions in the U.S.
R.C.I.A. – NEXT SUNDAY, RITE OF ENROLLMENT
Our Parish Family has two candidates in our RCIA this year who are anticipating receiving Sacraments of Initiation at our Easter Vigil: Tina Lahay and Stephanie Williams. Next Sunday at our 10:30am they will be enrolled formally as catechumens as they enter into the final stage of their catechetical and spiritual preparation to become fully initiated into the Catholic Church. Let’s all pray for them!