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

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Blessed Laetare Sunday!
This weekend is one of two that the Church recommends rose colored vestments (the other is Gaudete Sunday in Advent).  Both Laetare and Gaudete mean Rejoice! in Latin.  This is an “oasis” in the desert of Lent.  Today liturgically it is slightly more festive in that we wear rose rather than the regular penitential violet.  You have probably noticed the minimal use of the organ the past couple of weeks, but this weekend we bring it back, but only a little bit. Easter is not here yet, but we rejoice at this half way mark. Let this weekend be a half-time pep rally to bolster our disciplines moving forward.  The better we prepare in Lent the better the Easter celebration will be!

Nine Nights of Night Prayer
St. Paul has been chosen to be one of nine other parishes in the diocese to host Nine Nights of Night Prayer.  We started Friday, March 17 and it continues every night through Saturday, March 25. Church opens at 8pm, and at 8:15pm 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.

Has Confession Sounded Slightly Different?
If you have gone to confession in the past few weeks, you may have noticed something just a little different when the priest prays the prayer of absolution.  The United States Bishops had the latin prayer text retranslated (similar to when the Roman Missal was translated back in 2010).  There are only two words that are different, and neither effect the most important words of the whole prayer which are (“I absolve you from your sins”). But in case you thought you heard something weird, it’s ok.  This Lent is the implementation period.  Priest can still use the older version, but we must make the switch to the new one at Easter time. Check this link to see the new prayer: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251513/when-will-the-new-wording-for-the-prayer-of-absolution-used-in-the-sacrament-of-penance-take-effect

Blessed Lent!

St. Paul, Pray for us!

Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Pfr