Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Lenten Mission Series
Thank you to all who are participating in the Lenten Mission series we are hosting on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings.  I was pleasantly surprised by the turnout especially the Saturday evening attendance.  The past two weekends about 50-60 people have come to grow in understanding and living out God’s Forgiveness in our lives.  If you have not come yet, please feel free to join us for the final few weeks.  There is still much to receive in this Lenten Season.  

Cluster Penance Service
As we have done in the past in our parish cluster, there will be a Lenten Communal Penance Service.  It will be at Queen of Heaven on March 26 at 7pm.  It is a great time to connect with the wider area in that we are all in need of mercy and why not celebrate God’s love as a community.  Just in case you have not been to one of these before, don’t worry - it is not communal in that we all confess out loud to each other (although back in the early church that was done sometimes). This type of service includes some communal prayers, but each penitent still celebrates individual confession and absolution with an individual priest. Hope to see you there!

Lenten Scrutinies 
Speaking of conversion, we are in the third week of Lent so that means the Church celebrates the First Scrutiny.  This will take place at our 8:15 Mass.  This is the brief but powerful ceremony to help catechumens (who are now the “Elect”) along the home stretch toward the Easter Sacraments. We will “scrutinize” them to make sure they are fulfilling what it required to be prepared to receive God’s sanctifying grace.  We will also pray for them as they continue to convert and rely on the Lord.  This is an example for all of us who have already received the sacraments of initiation.  Are we enacting the grace we have received?  Take this opportunity to renew our commitment to our baptismal call.

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Pfr