My dear friends,
Blessed Laetare Sunday!
As we pass the midpoint of Lent, we are reminded to rejoice—Easter is near! This is a time to renew our Lenten commitments to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. If you’ve faltered, start again. If you haven’t begun, now is the time.
May we hear this Sunday's Gospel parable with the same power Jesus' contemporaries heard it! The parable of the Prodigal Son or Forgiving Father with the ending of the elder brother's reaction, should knock us over concerning what mortal sin truly says to God and eventually does to a person; we should leave Mass with a deeper sense of who our Heavenly Father is and the generous mercy, love and forgiveness that is at the heart of God - healing us of any broken or incorrect images of God; and may it also be a wake-up-call to ensure that our presence in the Church never misses the opportunity of communion with God so that we can live and image the mercy of God to others as Jesus did.
If you have not been to confession this Lent, I encourage you to do so, especially on Reconciliation Monday during Holy Week, when all parishes in the Archdiocese of New York, Brooklyn, and Rockville Centre (Long Island) will offer Confessions.
Please pray for our Religious Ed children of the parish who will make their First Confession today!
Parish News & Updates:
Thank you to Camille Roche for organizing our Botanical Garden trip, where 17 parishioners enjoyed the Orchid Show with a modern Mexican theme!
Our gratitude goes to to Karen Pallela of the Parish Council, as well as the Knights of Columbus (Keogh Council), and to our Girl Scouts for another successful Lenten fish fry—two down, one to go!
October Parish Pilgrimage to Rome – With 29 interested, we are moving forward with Pro-Rome Tours to finalize details! The new dates will be a Thursday, October 9th departure with a return on Saturday, October 18th.
Parish Council Nominations – The council has updated its bylaws and is accepting nominations for next year’s term through Sunday, April 6. The revised constitutions will be shared next week via the bulletin.
It has come to my attention that separate Palm Sunday Envelopes were mailed to us. Please know that there is only one collection, however, on Palm Sunday, covering both the usual weekly offering and Palm Sunday giving.
Chrism Mass – Tuesday of Holy Week – The bus will leave in advance so that we will not be rushed (the procession tends to start 30 minutes or so before the 4pm Mass). The special Mass should last 60-75 minutes and the bus should pick people up about 20 minutes after the Mass ends around 5:30pm. Those staying in the city should arrange their own transportation home. This is a Mass all Catholics should go to at least once in their lives.
Service & Community:
Thank you to all who serve our food pantry and Hope Soup Kitchen—your generosity is a true blessing!
This Sunday, Joe LoBono will speak on behalf of the Holy Name Societies of Annunciation and Fatima Parish and IHM, inviting men to their April retreat.
This weekend, I am scheduled for the 5:30pm Vigil this evening and the 9:00am Family Mass and 12:00 noon Mass.
Fr. Thumma will celebrate the 7:30am and 10:30am Masses.
I look forward to offering some Lenten Reflections on Thursday, April 10th at 7pm based on Pope Francis' letter (Encyclical) on the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Perhaps I can share them one morning, too, after a 9am daily Mass.
Here is an article that caught my attention about the Holy Father's Eucharistic piety written by Father Raymond J. de Souza, a Canadian priest who was a year behind my class in Rome. Click here for the article. First Friday Adoration at IHM will go straight through the evening until midnight.
As we continue through Lent, may we embrace God’s mercy and love. Thank you for your commitment to our parish!
A blessed Sunday of Rejoicing to you!
Parish Calendar of Events
Saturday, March 29
• First Confessions for Religious Education Students
Sunday, March 30
• 9:00am to 12:00 noon - Parish Library open
• Girl Scout Cookie Sale after the two later Masses
Monday, March 31
• No Religious Education Classes (Catechist Professional Development Day)
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Tuesday, April 1
- Bible Discussion 7-8:30 pm (lower church)
Wednesday, April 2
• No Religious Education Classes (Catechist Professional Development Day)
Friday, April 4 – First Friday
• Eucharistic Exposition (All evening, concluding at midnight)
• 7:00 pm - Stations of the Cross
Thursday, April 10
• Evening of Lenten Recollection on Pope Francis' Encyclical on the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Msgr. Luke Sweeney) 7:00-9:00 p.m.
• 7:00 pm - Stations of the Cross
Monday of Holy Week, April 14
• 2:00pm to 4:00 pm & 6:00pm - 9:00pm Reconciliation Monday
Tuesday of Holy Week, April 15
• Parish Trip to the Chrism Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral (Please RSVP if interested), departure 1:30pm from IHM, 4:00pm Mass
For more details, please check the parish bulletin or contact the rectory.