Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

My Dear Parishioners
 
Coming together to celebrate the Lord’s Day we observe the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time. We leave Ordinary Time this week with the beginning of Lent on Wednesday. Lent is the 40 days prior to Easter during which we actively engage in PRAYER, FASTING and ALMSGIVING. As we reflect upon the sufferings that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, endured for our salvation we are challenged to conversion and a change of heart. The disciplines of Lent (prayer, fasting and almsgiving) assist us in our responding positively to repentance. I will be reminding you during this holy season of the various opportunities we all have to reform our lives and become true disciples of Jesus Christ.
 
Starting on Wednesday we begin FASTING and we will do so every Friday during Lent. Remember only one full meal is permitted on these days. The pious custom of denying (giving up) a certain “like” is admirable during the Lenten season. The fasting regulations are included within today’s bulletin. Parents should introduce this practice to their children and promote it to the entire family. PRAYER is to be done daily and be brought to life in the home. Daily Mass, weekly Stations of the Cross, Monday Evening Holy Hour & Confessions, are just be a couple of ways in which we are invited to come close to the Lord during this time.
 
ALMSGIVING is another important part of our Lenten observance. RICE BOWL is the Catholic Relief Services almsgiving program for the Church in the United States which touches more than 100 million lives in our country and throughout the world. Did you know that 75% of our Rice Bowl donations support CRS programs around the world and 25% helps ease hunger and poverty in the Diocese of Paterson? For the 40 days of Lent you are asked to place $1 per day in the alms box. $1 per day for the 40 days of Lent means 3 months of clean water for a family; 2 years of seed for a farmer; and 1 month of food for a family. Our fasting produces so much good in the world for those who have so little. I ASK THAT EVERY FAMILY IN OUR PAR ISH TAKE A RICE BOWL HOME AND PLACE IT ON THE TABLE WHERE MEALS ARE SHARED SO THAT YOU MAY BE REMINDED OF LENT AND OUR CALL TO PRAYER, FAST ING AND ALMSGIVING. This is just but one small way in which you can bring the holiness of Lent into your home. I know that the Lord will richly bless your household for this sign of faith.
 
Last call for the LENT RETREAT which will take place on Saturday!  You do not want to miss this wonderful opportunity to begin the holy season. Call the parish office no later than Monday for registration,
 
HAPPY LENT!
Father Zig