Pastor's Column March 8, 2015

Congratulations to all of our young people who are receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation this Saturday. My thanks to Ms. Macrina Dodson, the PSR teachers, and all those who helped prepare the confirmandi. We especially thank Bishop Lennon for taking the time to pray with us and proclaim the Faith to our students. 

    I celebrated a Memorial Mass for James Gerity, Jr. last Saturday. Jim was 92 years old, a longtime faithful parishioner who sent his two children to our parish school. I assured his family we would keep him and them in our prayers. 

    We also extend our sympathies to Terry Palowski and her two sons on the loss of her husband Conrad. He was a graduate of St. Edward High School and had a 37 year career with the United States Post Office. May he share forever in the glory of the resurrection. 

    Fr. Carlin, the pastor of St. Charles and Fr. Bouhall, the pastor of St. Thomas More, are giving a talk on the patron saints of their parishes, as I am speaking of St. Leo the Great, our parish patron. This Lenten Mission is a cooperation of three of our cluster parishes and begins with my reflections on St. Leo the Great this Sunday evening at 7pm at St. Thomas More. If you’d like to learn more about our patron saint, and just have another opportunity to do something extra during this Lenten Time, then please join us for one or all three nights. Nancy Zola will also be offering her reflections as a parishioner of St. Leo’s. Learn about how St. Leo contributed so much to the Church by the wisdom of his writings. 

    Of course during Lent we continue to have our Fish Fry's, Stations of the Cross and our ARISE faith-sharing groups as opportunities to join with fellow parishioners during this time of renewal. We also have our baby bottle collection for Womankind and the Have a Heart, Lend a Hand donations provide us with a chance to give alms. The more we allow ourselves to enter the spirit of Lent, the more joy we will experience as we celebrate the meaning of Easter. 

    This is the hardest part of winter…having faced the bitter cold and many days of snow for the last few weeks, we get tired & perhaps sluggish as our energy drains from us. But spring, warmth and green grass are ahead of us, and along with these, the signs of resurrection. Let us endure these days patiently and gratefully, as we put our trust in God’s promise of faithfulness.