From the Pastor March 1/2

From Palms to Ashes

Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Season of Lent. Even though Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation, receiving the mark of ashes on the forehead is very popular with most Catholics and some other Christians. Mass crowds are often much larger on Ash Wednesday. It is so popular that you have people who seldom attend church show up for ashes. Priests refer to such people as CAPE Catholics or parishioners who attend Mass on Christmas, Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, and Easter. 

On Sunday at 3 pm, we'll conduct a short Prayer Service and ceremoniously burn last year's palms to make the ashes for this Ash Wednesday. If you were wondering, that is where the ashes come from. You can bring your old palms to the service if you forgot to bring them to Mass today, but don't bother to bring them next week. You can burn them up yourself. 

Using ashes as a mark of repentance for sins has an ancient Biblical precedence. Several times in the Hebrew scriptures, we hear God command His people to put on sackcloth, which is extremely uncomfortable to wear, and pour ashes over their heads as a sign of repentance. While in our country, the tradition is to mark Mass goer's foreheads with a sign of the cross while saying, "Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return" or "Repent and believe in the Gospel," in Italy and many other countries, the ashes are poured onto the crown of people's heads. 

In recent years, I've heard of non-Catholic clergy going to supermarkets, commuter rail stations, and other such places and giving out ashes. I don't get it! That seems to make receiving ashes a charm or superstition. Do they think just having ashes on their forehead will help prepare their souls to grow closer to Christ? We need to hear the Word of God and receive the Eucharist if we want to turn our hearts back to God. That is why I only distribute ashes at Mass.

Ashes are a sacramental or a dynamic sign to help remind us of the Sacraments. They make any moment holy and open our hearts to receive God's blessings. They help point us towards the Sacraments and lead us to receive the graces they give. Sacramentals don't require recipients to study or be of a certain age before receiving them. Anyone from the smallest of babies, non-Catholics, and anyone with a heart open to God can receive ashes. It is always good to do a little preparation before receiving ashes. Since we are entering a penitential season where we reflect on our sinfulness, it is good to say an Act of Contrition or some prayer of repentance. Try to plan to wear your ashes for as much of the day as possible. Don't be reluctant or ashamed to show the world that you are a person of faith willing to proclaim you are on a journey of faith, joining with Jesus on the way to sharing in his Resurrection. 

I hope all parishioners will be sure to come to Mass, receive Ashes, and prepare themselves to deepen their faith in God this Wednesday as we begin the season of Lent.

Celebration of Anointing of the Sick

This weekend, we will celebrate the Sacrament of the Sick with parishioners who are candidates for Anointing. You are a good candidate if you are suffering from a chronic illness, advanced in age with diminishing strength, preparing to undergo surgery (serious enough that you will undergo general anesthesia), or are in danger of death due to illness, injury, or old age. 

Recently, Pope Francis called for Catholics to better understand the Sacrament of the Sick. Popularly known as the "Last Rites," the Sacrament isn't only for people approaching death. It is a sacrament of healing meant to fill a sick person with God's grace for physical and spiritual healing. 

The Sacrament of the Sick helps the afflicted person to be reminded of the power of prayer to save the sick person. The Anointing signifies Christ's compassion and hope for the sick. It gives the afflicted's family solace, reminding everyone they are not alone in their suffering. 

The Anointing of the Sick offers the ill special graces by uniting their illnesses to Christ's passion for their good and that of the whole Church and gives them the strength and peace to endure their suffering and pain in a Christian manner. The anointed person receives conditional forgiveness for their sins, healing, and purification of their soul. 

Caregivers should not wait to call a priest to visit someone who is dying. He should be called while the sick person is alert enough to ask for absolution and receive communion. Spread the word about the correct understanding of "last rites" and help bring solace to suffering souls. 

Coffee & Donuts

Coffee & donuts or other refreshments will be offered after Masses this weekend and the first weekend of every month. Everyone is invited to our newly renovated Parish Center to join the conversation and fraternity of parish life. The best access to the hall is through the elevator lobby doors to the left of the altar. 

Living A Spiritual Lent

Registered Holy Redeemer Parishioners received a Lenten letter recently with several suggestions to help us make Lent 2025 spiritually productive. Included with the letter was a pamphlet, Hope in the Cross, A Lenten Experience, which gives ways to practice prayer and fasting this year, and a Lenten Folder for our almsgiving. 

As in past years, we will recite the Stations of the Cross followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament every Friday afternoon at 4:30. Each week, a parish ministry will lead us in a different setting of the stations. This Friday, members of the Pastoral Council will lead using the Stations for Today's Disciples. A simple soup supper will follow in the Parish Center. There is no charge for the meal. Come pray and share fellowship with other parishioners. 

The letter also announced that rejuvenating the Sacrament of Reconciliation is part of our Lenten efforts. Fr. Sullivan is setting aside extra time to be in the Reconciliation Room at the back of the church. In addition to the usual Saturday afternoon time frame of 3:00–3:45 pm, he will be there on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30-4:30 pm. Later in Lent, we will schedule a Reconciliation Service.