Feb 07, 2024

Greetings,

This coming Wednesday is Ashentine’s Day: a mash up of St. Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday. (Thank you to the parishioner who coined that phrase.) Here are a couple of reminders of things to do that day: Remind the person you love how much he or she means to you and how much you appreciate that person’s very being. Do so while maintaining a day fast and abstinence. (You could always give a coupon for a great big steak dinner or a box of chocolate for the weekend.)

But, in all seriousness, one of the beautiful things about this conundrum is finding a way to say, “I love you,” without falling into the usual, easy tropes. Be inventive and adventurous while maintaining your commitment to Love itself, our Lord Jesus Christ. Who knows? It might make it the best Valentine’s Day ever.

ASH WEDNESDAY MASSES: Masses on Wednesday will be at 9am and 7pm

HERE ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR LENT AT YOUR PARISH:

TUESDAY ADORATION: Our Eucharistic Lord is exposed on our altar following the 8am Mass until 8pm in the evening. We could particularly use adorers from about 4-6pm.

COMPLINE & BENEDICTION: There is Compline (the official night prayer of the Church) followed by Benediction beginning at 7:40pm on Tuesdays.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS: There will be Stations of the Cross with Adoration every Friday at 1:45pm and 7pm.

40 DAY CLUB: Consider attending daily Mass at least occasionally during Lent.

OPERATION RICE BOWL: Catholic Relief Services is the U.S. Bishops’ outreach to those most in need throughout the world. You can make a difference by using your Operation Rice Bowl and depositing the money that you saved from fasting and practices of abstinence, throwing in your loose change or just donating and returning your bowl during Holy Week. If you do not have a child in the school, PSR or at JBA, you may pick up your bowl at all the doors. MISSION: The parish mission will be February 25 through the 27 at 7pm in the Church.

DIOCESAN NIGHT OF CONFESSIONS: You can go to any parish in the diocese from 5-8pm on Wednesday, February 28, and there will be a priest on hand to hear your confession. Both Fr. Bozek and I will be here that night.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONFESSION: St. Sebastian has confessions on Tuesdays 7-7:30pm, Fridays 4-5pm and Saturdays 9:30-10am. St. Hilary has confessions on Saturdays from 3-3:45pm. St. Vincent de Paul has confessions on Fridays 3:30-4:30pm. St. Bernard has confessions on Saturdays 3-4pm. Guardian Angels offers confessions on Saturdays at 4pm. St. Paul’s confessions are on Fridays from 4-5pm and Saturdays 3-4pm.

God bless,

Fr. Valencheck