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Letters from a Pastor to His People

Today we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Lent. The story of the Prodigal Son is a story of sin and redemption. It is also a story about the love of a parent for his child. A father had two sons—one chose to obey his father and the other chose to squander his life and inheritance. Eventually the destitute son chooses to come back home and face his shame and his father. It is the story of the father that captures our hearts in the Lenten season. Every day that his son is missing, the father goes out and looks for his lost son. When he is finally sees his son, the father, filled with compassion, goes out to meet him. He puts beautiful clothes on his son and rings on his fingers. He restores his son to his original place in the family. This is a story about God. God waits for all of us and is ready to throw a party when we turn from sin and become his light in the world once again. Lent is a season of homecoming in our faith. Through our Lenten prayer, activities, and charity, we once again choose light over darkness. God is waiting for each of us.

This week the men of the parish had their Lenten retreat. About twenty-five men of the parish gave six hours of their weekend to prayer and reflection. I often hear people ask why they need a retreat. I myself have asked that same question at different points in my life. I have come to believe a day away allows us to put the everyday responsibilities on hold and allows us to think. We live 24/7. Often even in sleep our minds can’t stop. A day without phones, work, or distractions allows us to reset. We get a chance to refocus ourselves on what is important in our lives. Thanks to the men who prepared this day of reflection and thanks to the women who also led the women’s retreat.

Another Lenten activity available to you this season is adoration on Tuesday evenings. Fr. Prasad is presenting a “Lenten Walk with Jesus” during the adoration period. We also have Stations of the Cross every Friday at 6:30 PM in the church. Reconciliation is offered an hour before the Stations. On April 4th, some of our eighth grade students will present the Living Stations of the Cross. Parishioners are invited to either presentation at 2:00 or 6:30 PM. Daily Mass is also another activity that is available at 8:30 AM. I hope these days of Lent enhance the Easter celebration for all of us.

We continue to have our prayer basket in the back of church. As parishioners add their prayers to the basket, other parishioners take one out and pray for their fellow parishioners. It is another way to connect us spiritually with our fellow parishioners. It also changes the focus of our prayer. It helps us look beyond ourselves and our needs to the needs of others. Please take a petition card this weekend and together we will raise up our prayers to God. 

Finally, thanks to all the parishioners who showed up for the lector and Eucharistic minister training meeting last Sunday. We will work quickly to get you on our Sunday schedule. Thanks to Marie and Tom Dombai for hosting the meeting.