Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Happy Feast Day St. Paul’s!!!
Even in these cold days of January we rejoice for what the Lord has done through our patron, our parish, and each of our parishioners. This particular feast of the year is unique in that it does not mark the birth or death of a saint, but his conversion. St. Paul’s dramatic conversion inspires us to respond with continual and deepening conversion. The light of Christ blinded Paul in order to - paradoxically - show him the truth. This truth purified him calling him out of sin. This same light then healed him so he could see again and finally Christ’s light shown through his holiness and evangelical zeal. Christ’s light is constant and eternal. Are we open to it? Do we allow his light to purify us, to show us the truth, and to then radiate from our words and actions? Growing in his light is the process of lifelong conversion. Even as dramatic as St. Paul’s initial conversion was, that was not all. His conversion continued being made manifest all through his ministry and finally to include his martyrdom.
The same must be true for us who have received Christ’s light and grace through the sacraments.
May the light of Christ shine on all of us to convert our hearts that His Light may radiate out to others showing all the truth of faith.
St. Paul Novena
Continual conversion requires prayer. As we have encouraged the past couple years, we have a St. Paul Novena written particularly for our parish. I request that all parishioners pray it on the assigned days if possible. It starts on January 25 and ends on February 2. Pamphlets with the novena are available in the Narthex. It is also on our website, and you can even follow along with daily videos on our facebook page. Thank you to Hallie Wolff for prayerfully writing this novena for us.
Candlemas on February 2
Speaking of light, Candlemas Day falls on a Sunday this year. Liturgically this is the Presentation of the Lord (or historically known as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary). But it is a day that the Church wants us to focus on light since Christ is proclaimed as a light to the nations. This day is also the unofficial end of the Christmas season, so if you’ve kept up some Christmas decorations this long, that’s fine! Hence our church sanctuary still has some remnants of Christmas decor.
Since February 2 is on a Sunday, each of the three weekend Masses will include the blessing of candles. We will bless all the liturgical candles to be used at the parish, and parishioners are welcome to bring candles to be blessed. If so, simply bring them and keep them with you during Mass.
CANDLE PROCESSION AT 10:30
The church does call for a procession to be done if possible. So, for the 10:30 Mass, those who are able we will have you start in the Parish Activity Center (PAC) where we will first bless candles, then each person (if able) will carry a lighted taper as we process to the church to begin Mass. If weather is not too bad, we will walk outside, but we can also walk through the school hallway if temperature is too cold. Here too, people may bring candles to be blessed.
Sincerely in Christ and Happy Feast Day!
Fr. Pfr