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

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I’ve Already Screwed Up My Lent!
For some, Lent is like New Year’s Resolutions. We make a resolution, but then fail soon after. A few may try again, and even fewer will perhaps over time achieve moderate success. But so often (which is why it has become so cliche) folks fall back into old bad habits. To salve the wound against our pride, one says, “Oh well, at least I tried. Maybe next year.” As Christians we do not want to equate our spiritual life with the way we approach the Cleveland Browns (“well maybe next year”). Our Lenten journey should not be like New Year’s Resolutions. Catholics approach Lent as a time of growing in God’s grace which means relying on Him rather than on our meager efforts, regardless of how resolved we may feel or how hard we think we “tried.”. Since Lent and our whole spiritual life is God focused, even our failures do not overcome us. When we sin or fail in our disciplines, we DO NOT pull ourselves up and try again. We can’t pull ourselves up in the life of grace. Even in our failure, it is God calling us to respond to His loving invitation and be renewed by His Mercy. Rather than sulk or make prideful excuses or give up, WE DO go to prayer. WE DO repent. WE DO GO TO CONFESSION! As St. Paul says, God shows His power through weakness. I am not suggesting that we should fail on purpose just to receive God’s mercy; but we should be ever more thankful for His mercy, which will lead us to sin no more like Our Blessed Lord tells the adulterous woman in the Gospel. So even if you’ve “screwed up your lent” already, be at peace and turn to God. Rely on His mercy and go to confession.

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 6-7pm

Diocesan night of Confessions Wednesday, March 8 from 5-8pm
One can go to any parish in the Diocese and a priest will be there for the Sacrament.
Since I am out of town this Wednesday, Fr. Bill Bartoul is kindly filling in at St. Paul

Cluster Confessions February 28, 5-6pm @ St. Francis de Sales
                                 March 14, 5-6pm @ St. Paul
                                 March 21, 5-6pm @ Nativity of the Lord
                                 March 28, 5-6pm @ Queen of Heaven

Other Opportunities
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 March 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.

Blessed Lent!
St. Paul, Pray for us!

Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Pf