LENT 2008
Dear parishioners,
This will undoubtedly be a year of non-stop electioneering. Politicians are already promising what they can never possibly deliver. More than that, and so sadly, they all know that you and I will respond to negative ads more than we do to their most inspiring hopes. We pray that they and we will resist such temptation!
Satan knows our weakness only too well. He knows how to lie. Satan knows how to make us afraid, make us arrogant and insecure. Satan knows how to make us sin. He will do all in his power to win.
Jesus knows Satan. He confronted Satan's every temptation, every lie. In the end, Jesus has won. Satan has lost... Forever.
The truth is that Jesus has elected us. In spite of our sinfulness, Jesus has entrusted us with his mercy and with his love. He has even called us to accept his election. He has given us the freedom to accept...or to refuse and be lost.
We can only thank God for such an undeserved election. Thank God for his endless mercy. Thank God for another chance to accept....
This is Lent: We have forty days. NOW IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME!
Ash Wednesday is EARLY THIS YEAR, February 6, 2008.
Lent begins with Mass and ashes at 7am, 1:00pm, 3:30pm, 7pm.
Elect to attend Sunday Mass early and often!
Nothing takes the place of our physical presence
when the family gathers for its meal. Nothing.
If this is true in our own families, how much more in the family of God?
- The priest will be in the confessional for you every Saturday beginning at 4:00 PM.
- Come to our Communal Penance Service on Palm Sunday, March 16th, at either
4:00 or 6:30PM.
We will have lots of priests to choose from.
If, God forbid, you should ever have a bad experience with one priest, don't let
that be the end, search for another priest until you find Jesus' Mercy and Compassion.
Your pastor,
Father Dale Lagodinski
“ARE WE GOING TO START BUILDING?”
Our Pastoral Council members asked this question.
“Yes, we ARE going to build!”
“WHEN ARE WE GOING TO BUILD?
“As soon as we reach that $3M mark, we can start the drawings! and...
We have only $450,000!!!! to go!”
“Thanks to some very hard working and dedicated parishioners who lead us...
They never gave in to negative thinking and never gave up calling upon their fellow parishioners, we have done a fantastic job to get this far. We owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude.”
“HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THE $450,000?”
“As soon as WE raise it.”
“HOW????”
“It’s time to PRAY and to take the LEAD! The professionals have done their job.
And now it’s up to us...”
That’s when the meeting got exciting....
“We can do it! You mean my little bit counts?... Let’s get our kids involved!...
I’ll take their pictures.... I’ll make posters!...We could have fund raisers ‘til we get there!
How about breakfasts? Maybe there are some we haven’t asked yet?
Let’s all double our pledges!... I’ll start with a $1,000, want to match me?...
How about a ‘thermometer’ in the lobby showing what’s coming in?
We could have a ‘building fund box’ on our kitchen tables! .......
We’re going to take this up with our friends...and see who we ‘get on board’...
Does the diocese have anyone to help us with more ideas?...
We’re SO close!”
The best line was one remembered on the way home...
“For the Pete’s sake,
either we should have the guts to lead
or
have the decency to stay out of the way of those who will...
so we can follow them!”
Your pastor is willing to bet
that if we ordinary parishioners kick in,
we’ll soon have what we need!
We’d love to hear your ideas...
MORE to come!!!!