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

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Thank You
Thank you for your continued support of Catholic Charities in our Diocese.  I know many have pledged by mail and others did so at Mass last week.  If you are still discerning how you want to support the campaign, that is wonderful.  Call the rectory if you need any assistance with making out your pledge. 

Welcome to the Desert of LENT
These past weeks we have been hopefully preparing well so that we can celebrate this Lenten season well. Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving is all there to foster true growth in charity - love of God and love of neighbor. I intend to focus on this in my weekly columns. Today is a lot of info and scheduling:

In addition to the regular Confession times of Fridays 4-5pm, and Saturdays 3-4pm there will also be Extra Confession Times:
On Select Thursdays – March 16, March 23, March 30 from 6-7pm
Diocesan night of Confessions Wednesday March 8 from 5-8pm
Cluster Confessions March 7,   5-6pm @ St. Francis de Sales
                                         March 14, 5-6pm @ St. Paul
                                         March 21, 5-6pm @ Nativity of the Lord Jesus
                                         March28,  5-6pm @. Queen of Heaven

Stations of the Cross
Thursdays of Lent from March 2 – March 30 @ 7pm, the parish will pray the Stations of the Cross in the Church. 

Nine Nights of Night Prayer
St. Paul’s has been chosen to be one of nine other parishes in the diocese to host Nine Nights of Night Prayer.  Mark your calendars for Mar. 17 - 25. Every night at 8pm we will pray Sacred Compline, the Night Prayer of the Church’s Liturgy of the Hours. It will be prayer by candlelight and takes ten to fifteen minutes.  There will be time after to socialize as well.  This effort is focused on Evangelization. Perhaps you know family members who have fallen away from the Church or some non-catholic friends who honestly seek God and peace, or anyone we want to bring to Christ but maybe are not ready to join us for Mass. This is a great opportunity to expose them to the Church in a gentle way.  Lent is a fine time to reach out to those seeking God. More details to come.

Two Mass and Confession Cancelations
Unfortunately, there are two Extraordinary Form Masses that we must cancel since I will be out of town.  The 4pm Confessions and 5:30 EF Mass on March 3 and the 9:30am EF Mass on Mar 5 are canceled.  Sadly, it is extremely difficult to find priests to cover this while I am away.  I encourage everyone who normally attends the 9:30 Mass to attend one of the other St. Paul Masses.
 
Blessed Lent!

St. Paul, Pray for us!

Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Pfr