Howdy,

It is almost February and this is usually a rather slow time in a parish...but not this year. Next weekend begins the annual diocesan campaign, the Charity and Development Appeal (CDA). Before Mass there will be a video from Bishop Dolan so please plan to arrive a little early.

Next week we have decided in light of the Eucharistic Revival that the American Bishops have called for, we will begin having Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament starting after the 9:00am Mass and concluding at 6:00pm. There will be sign-up sheets in the vestibule so that we know that Our Lord is never left alone. Our plan is to, at least, continue this through Easter.

Howdy,

I am sure most of you have heard that Bishop Dolan has accepted my offer to resign as pastor. Obviously, I have very mixed feelings about leaving, but it is the best for me and for my health. I am confident that with our great staff and with our wonderful community, the future will be very bright.

Beloved in Christ,

As we welcome the second Sunday in Ordinary time of the Liturgical Year, let us behold Jesus Christ the Lamb of God as the Gospel tells us, with love and humility to draw mercy and strength from Him. The USCCB has encouraged us to continue this year to preach and promote the Eucharistic Revival Campaign in our different parish levels. The focus of the Eucharistic Revival is on the Real Presence. We are called to believe and preach that the Blessed Eucharist is the Body, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ (CCC), and our food for eternal life (John 6:54).

A friend of mine is a young priest who teaches high school physics at a Catholic boys’ prep school. Like many today, the boys often think science and religion are enemies. So, he delights in their raised eyebrows when he reminds them his first full-time job as a priest was to be an astrophysicist. He cataloged the size, shape, and matter of distant stars. He tells them, “Science gave me more love for God, not less.”

We hide ourselves and our secrets from God because we are afraid. Even Mary can seem too perfect to approach. The shepherds find the strength to speak to Mary and Joseph at the moment they see the child in the manger. They open their hearts and share what they’ve experienced. Saint Luke writes of the shepherds, “When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.”