Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, 

His Church, and All People

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Lent is Underway!

“What are you giving up?” is often the question we hear at this time of year.  This is well and good, but I invite us to ask another question, “what are you doing for Lent?”  I grant that giving up something is a “doing” of sorts in that it takes effort, but we must not forget there are three ways of penance in Lent - we give up stuff as we are fasting, yes, but there is also the doing of almsgiving, and especially prayer. 

Check out next week’s Faith Formation (see below) which will be a boost in celebrating this season. Keep in mind almsgiving opportunities like increasing one’s offertory at Mass or helping out St. Vincent de Paul or the Peter Maurin Center.

Also, there will be more times for confession every week of Lent. In addition to our regular parish times (Fridays and Saturdays) there will be:

Tuesday       March 11 @ 5-6 @ St. Paul 

Wednesday  March 19 @ 5-8 @ St. Paul (Diocesan Night of Confessions)

Tuesday       March 25 @ 5-6 @ St. Paul

Tuesday       April 1 @ 5-6  @ St. Paul (Cluster Confession Night)

Tuesday       April 8 @ 5-6 @ St. Francis de Sales (Cluster Confession Night)

Faith Formation on Sunday March 16 @ 9:15-10:15 

Flourishing in the Desert: Lenten Discipline, Apophatic Worship, and 

the Bishop’s Letter

This month’s Faith Formation will review excerpts of the Bishop’s Apostolic Letter in relation to the Lenten Season.  We will discuss the importance of Liturgical participation as well as private devotion.  We will share practical tips in navigating this wonderful penitential season that we may grow in grace and charity.  Having read part one of the bishop’s letter (See below) is helpful but not necessary.

Bishop’s Pastoral Letter

Everyone should have received in the mail Bishop Malesic’s Pastoral letter: A Flourishing Apostolic Church.  His expectation is that this letter be at the forefront of conversation for parishes.  The bishop is our diocesan pastor and our spiritual father, so we owe him the respect to take his letter seriously and implement his vision as best we can.  You can download and read his letter online here:

https://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/a-flourishing-apostolic-church/overview

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Pfr