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

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Feast Day, Parish Novena, and Eucharistic Devotions - January 25- February 2
Our parish patronal feast day is Jan. 25, the Conversion of St. Paul.  This year we are celebrating over a period of nine days with our parish novena.  This week’s bulletin includes the novena prayers for everyone to pray on their own, and folks can follow on our website or facebook page.  This weekend we are continuing the novena prayers following the Masses and also after the 4:30 and 11:30 Masses, we will have time of adoration and Benediction.  Here is the rest of the novena schedule:

January 28/29 - Adoration and Benediction after Masses
January 30 @ 6:30 - Faith Formation on The Eucharist
January 31 @ 6:30 - Faith Formation on St. Paul
February 2 @ 11:30am - Blessing of Candles/Procession with Mass
February 2 @ 6:30pm - Candlelight Adoration with Solemn Benediction

I am asking all parishioners to pray the novena prayers every day even if one cannot attend our events.  Perhaps include before or after your dinner prayers. Maybe as you are putting the kids to bed, invite them to pray for the different people of the parish through this novena.

True Conversion
This weekend I invite everyone to think on the true meaning of conversion.  After all this is the Feast of the “Conversion” of St. Paul.  While conversion is what the Christian life is all about, this is the only specific “conversion” we celebrate liturgically.  For Catholics, our Christian conversion is continual. This means there is meant to be continual growth in holiness, going from grace to grace.  For most of us, that growth is not a straight line up, but includes steps forward as well as stepping back or even falling into sin.  Even so, perseverance in converting, “turning with” the Lord (that’s literally what “con-vertere” means) is what brings us further growth and holiness. Trusting in the Lord’s mercy, turning back through the sacrament of confession, making efforts to grow in virtue by serving the poor, and striving to share your faith with others is the way we honor our patron and our parish. 

Faith Formation Nights and Candlemas Day
Please make an effort to join us for the novena events.  Our Faith Formation nights will delve more into the Eucharist as a Sacrament of Conversion on Monday night.  Tuesday will focus more on St. Paul’s Conversion as a model for our own.  We will conclude the novena with the focus on the light of Christ as we bless candles. The same light of Christ that blinded St. Paul can shine through us if we let it.

St. Paul, Pray for us!

Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Pfr