From the Pastor March 15/16

Living A Spiritual Lent

Hopefully, everyone has gotten off to a good start this Lent. Don't worry too much if you have yet to get in the swing of things. There is still time. I recently read over a list of 101 things to give up for Lent compiled by the staff of America, the Jesuit magazine. I thought, "Wow, who thought of all those things." Well I read over the list, and only about half of them were suggestions of possible things to give up. There was also a long list of things to pick up or do for Lent.

Give-up:

• Chocolate -that is a no-brainer and on the top of everybody's list.
• Television-Pope Francis has done this one for the last thirty-five years.
• Social media-The Vatican strongly encourages this one. They are even giving a special Holy Year Indulgence for this one. 
• Plastic straws-Donald Trump might be right about paper ones collapsing, but you can use glass or metal reusable ones. Maybe tell the clerk you don't need one.
• Keurig Pods or coffee altogether
• Pretending to know all the answers-looking up the real answer leads to understanding. 

Take-ups:

• Kindness and gratitude-People make mistakes, things happen that are beyond their control. Treat others with understanding.
• Declutter-Realize you don't need half of the things you own, the day will never come when you need the things you are hanging on to.
• Being present to others-it isn't all about you; fight against distractions when in the presence of others.
• Pray more-Visit a church every day, say a Rosary, pray for others while in traffic.
• Join a small faith-sharing group- you will grow in your love of God throughout the year. 
• Pray for your parish priest. He might do things that irritate you, but remember, this is a busy time, so say a prayer for him at Sunday Mass.

I thought these were some of the better ones. What are you giving up or taking up for Lent?

Many parishioners make attendance at our 8 am daily Mass, a Lenten practice. Please consider your attendance part of your Lent. Maybe it will become your practice all year long.

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. St. Vincent de Paul Society members will lead the stations using the Social Justice Stations this Friday. 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. 

Receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation should be 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. 

Filling Your Lenten Folders

Parishioners received a Lenten Letter before the season began. It included our annual Lenten Folder. Parishioners are encouraged to use the folder as a Lenten almsgiving activity. Please put aside 25c each day for a total of $10 over the course of Lent. We will donate proceeds from the folders to the Cape Cod Foster Closet. The Closet is a charity that provides clothing and other essentials to foster parents welcoming a child from state custody into their home. Providing a home for a foster child is a very generous gesture from these people, and we need to support them. 

Recently, I have seen some wonderful public service announcements on television describing the rewards people get from providing a welcoming home to foster children, especially teenagers. Your donation to the Lenten Folders can tremendously impact many lives. 

Keeping Up Appearances

We want to keep our newly renovated church looking top-notch. We don't want to let wear and tear go unattended. So, a group of parishioners has formed to keep a lookout for such things. Some members have experience in maintenance, the trades, or construction. Others want to lend a hand around our properties. You can help by joining the Building and Maintenance Group or looking around the church for little things that need attention. See something, Say something.   

We finally have an engineering plan for the parking lot. It includes an entrance directly off Old Harbor Road and stall spaces rather than the current rows. Light fixtures like the one installed for Christmas will run down the middle of the lot, and a new sign facing out onto Old Harbor Road is also in the plans. All we need now is the price for the work.

Did you notice new doors were installed at Our Lady of Grace Chapel? That happened in January. They add light to the back of the chapel. Swing up the hill and take a look.

Taize Prayer Service 

A Taize Prayer Service will be held on Sunday, March 23, at 3:00 pm in the Parish Center. Taize prayer originated at the Ecumenical Monastery in France. It is contemplative and includes music emphasizing simple scriptural phrases. The services have no preaching. Taize Prayer is a good aid to your Lenten prayer. Since the beginning of Lent, our Recessional Hymn is an example of the Taize worship style.