March 30, 2008

FATHER'S TWO-CENTS WORTH

Greetings and God’s blessings to all of you! We can tell that spring is coming with the sprouting of the buds and flowers. Spring is always a time of hope as we look forward to the beauty that nature blesses us with, in the new life that has sprung from the dormancy of winter. That is why Easter is always in the Spring—a time of hope for all of us. Easter speaks of resurrection, new life, a new beginning in Christ through forgiveness. I hope that all of us can rejoice in the new life and hope that springs from Easter into our daily lives. It is there for all of us! If we have not started to let it happen, we can do it now. We are the ones who control God’s graces in our lives—we open the door or keep it closed; we minimize or maximize His gifts by our choice. Let His new life enter!

This week, we begin April. A third of the year is already past! What do we have to show for it in our spiritual growth or spiritual life? I hope all of us can say that we have grown in our love of God and in our service to God and neighbor—and to our Church.

I want to thank everyone for their generous gifts to the parish and to the poor this past Easter Sunday. God has blessed all of us in so many ways! We show our appreciation by using His gifts - be they time, talent, or treasure, to give greater honor and glory to God and to His people. We bless others as God has blessed us. It is the only way that we can make more room for blessings from God.

Next Sunday is First Communion Day for our second grade students. This will take place at a 2:00 P.M. mass. Please pray for all of the students, that they will thoroughly remember this special event in their lives. Also pray for their families, that they will always be a great role model by their own faith and reception of the sacraments, and lead their children to God through reception of the Holy Eucharist. These little ones cannot make it to Mass by themselves—they need persons to wake them, get them ready, and to bring them to church. Sad to say, we have many who drop their children off for the PSR classes on Sunday, pick them up, but do not go to mass. We have many who send their children to Holy Childhood School, and do not fulfill their Sunday obligation. Faith is caught, not merely taught!

I hope, as I write this article, that our “turn-out” for Spring church cleaning is a great turnout of parishioners. We all like things to be neat and clean for our use. We often do not leave things in that way for others. We may have many excuses! But the reality is that we are often times self-centered that we do not think of others. Love of God moves us to do for others as we would want them to do for ourselves. Cleaning our church is a sign of our love for God’s house and making it a worthy place to worship. Thanks to all who came to help with the Church cleaning on Saturday.

Pray for our diocese that truth, justice, and peace may come to all of us. Pray also for vocations to the priesthood and to the religious life from our families. It is our future in the faith, in the Catholic Church, in our diocese.

PARISH SCHOOL OF RELIGION

REMINDER

4/4/08 1:00-2:30 PM 1st Communion Practice - church

4/6/08 2:00 PM 1st Communion-church

Please note there will not be PSR class for second graders on April 6, 2008.