February 25, 2007 – Lent I
This is the First Sunday of Quadragesima (40) as the Church officially terms her annual season of prayer and penance. It is also the liturgical “Angel Sunday.” We beg the assistance of the angels, especially our own Guardian, to protect us against the assaults of the Evil One, and encourage us to perseverance in this season of prayer and penance. Confessions will be heard before and during all Masses. Early Lenten Vespers & Benediction are at 1:10 PM.
Every Catholic boy should learn how to serve God at the altar. It is both a privilege and a duty. Sunday Serving Classes continue today at 10:40 AM.
Ember Days
Wednesday, Friday and Saturday of this week are the Lenten Ember Days. All Catholics, age seven and older, must keep the abstinence, partial on Wednesday and Saturday; total on Friday. All those between the ages of 21 and 59 are obliged to follow the Church laws of fast—one full meal a day.
Childrens’ Day of Recollection
This year our Childrens’ Day of Recollection will take place on Wednesday, February 28th from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, for both Grade School and High School Students. Separate spiritual talks will be given for both groups. Please make every effort to have your children attend this spiritually enriching day. Please call the school (513-645-4216) by Monday, February 26th to let us know if you plan to have your children attend. A lunch will be provided. No charge!
• 9:00 AM: Opening of the Day of
Recollection
• 11:30 AM: High Mass
• 2:50 PM: Closing Stations &
Benediction
Sorrowful Mother Novena
We are now in the fifth week of our Novena to the Sorrowful Mother with the Blessing of the Sick. This devotion takes place every Friday evening after the Sermon and Stations of the Cross. Call or mail in to the office the first names of those who are sick, and those for whom you would like us to pray.
First Friday
10:45 AM Confessions
11:30 AM High Mass & Benediction
5:00 PM Confessions & Rosary
5:45 PM Low Mass, Exposition and
Sacred Heart Novena
Beginning of All Night Adoration
6:45 PM Parish Potluck Plus Supper
7:15 PM Confessions
7:30 PM Stations, Sermon, Sorrowful
Mother Novena V & Blessing of the Sick,
Holy Communion, Confessions
The intention of our All Night Adoration for the First Friday in Lent is: In Reparation to the Sacred Heart, for the grace of a Good Lent for all.
Adoration Continues All Night
First Saturday
Reparation Intention: For Blasphemies of Heretics, Schismatics & Impious Men.
7:15 AM Confessions
7:30 AM Low Mass
8:10 AM Rosary & First Saturday Devotions
8:40 AM Closing Benediction
9:00 AM High Mass
Your Prayers, Please…
In your charity please pray for: Dr. John Powell, Mike Ribar, Sr., Ishmael Sisson, the father of Priscilla Sisson, for David Ostertag, the brother of Marlys Arlinghaus, and the cousin of Patricia Patton, Carol Mincey who was anointed on Ash Wednesday. Also please pray for the repose of the soul of Mrs. Mary Ahern, the mother of Father and Mr. Barry Ahern, who died earlier this month.
What’s A Jog-A-Thon?
Our fund raising committee has come up with a great plan to reach out to the community to help bring in funds for our church, school and youth groups. We hope everyone here at St. Gertrude the Great will get involved in this upcoming event, our first Jog-A-Thon. Packets of forms and all the necessary information will be available after the Masses today. If you can run, jog, walk or crawl around a 1/8 mile track – get a sponsor – that’s how easy it is. We hope to hold this event on April 28th, so we don’t really have that much time. Once you have had a chance to look over the information supplied in your packet, there will someone in Helfta Hall before and after the 9:00 AM Mass to answer any questions. This has the potential of being a wonderful fund raiser for our church, school and youth groups. Pick up your packet today. And should you run out of forms – the Book Store will always have more. Do your part, don’t get left behind!
Stations In Lent
At 2:50 PM on Wednesday, we offer the traditional Children’s Stations of the Cross.
At 7:30 PM every Friday of Lent we offer the Stations of the Cross, Sermon, Sorrowful Mother Novena and Blessing of the Sick, Benediction and Holy Communion.
Lenten Potluck Plus Supper
Each year on the Friday nights in Lent we offer a Parish Potluck Plus Supper following the Mass and before the Stations of the Cross. The unique item that makes up the Plus this year is that each Friday night will have a specific theme:
March 2nd: Baked Potato Night
March 9th: Pasta Night
March 16th: Soup & Breads Night
March 23rd: Pizza Night
March 30th: Fish Night
Please let us know which Friday night you would like to sponsor. The church will cover the expense of the ingredients. We will also supply beverages, plates, utensils, etc. If you plan to eat with us we ask that you bring a suitable dish to share that will coordinate with the theme, such as vegetables, salad, pasta, etc. Please, since it is Lent, no desserts. Bon appetit!
Holy Helper Volunteers
Saturday, March 3rd: Katie Bischak, Wilker Family.
Next Sunday
Next Sunday is the First Sunday of the month. Our Special Second Collection is for: Seminary Support. The Blessing of Religious Articles follows all Masses.
Set your missal: March 4th. Lent II with the commemorations of Our Lady and All the Saints and for the Living and the Dead. Pref: Lent.
The Paschal Sacraments
First Testing & First Confessions: Saturday, April 21st. (Baptismal Cer-tificate must be presented before testing, and form filled out.
• Obligatory Day of Recollection for all First Communion Children: Thursday, May 24th.
• Confirmation: Saturday, May 26th.
• First Holy Communion: Sunday, June 10th.
Parents, please remember to submit to the Office by March 25th, the Baptismal certificates of children not baptized at St. Gertrude the Great. If your child is not enrolled in the school or Sunday School, please let us know if you are planning on bringing him to be tested in April. Unless we have the Baptismal certificate, we will be unable to do the necessary testing. Sometimes it is difficult to tell if a child is ready for the Sacraments. Please consult the priest. The Church earnestly desires all children to receive Our Lord as soon as possible.
Confession Update
For a year now we have been able to offer Sunday confessions quite frequently. (If you see me head to the back of the church after giving a sermon before Mass, it is to the confessional.) Fr. Cekada’s throat bothers him frequently and is exacerbated by the whispering of the confessional; so I try to avoid asking him to hear on Sundays. Fr. Thielen or Fr. Saavedra are often with us to hear Sunday Confessions, and I go back whenever I am free. If you wish to receive the Sacrament of Penance, check the confessional before Mass. It may be that a priest is hearing confessions.
Due to the frequency of Sunday confessions, the old time of Saturday afternoon does not draw too many – one or two, but often now no one. Therefore, Saturday afternoon Confessions will only be scheduled for special occasions. If you wish to receive the Sacrament of Penance in the afternoon or evening hours, a priest will continue to hear confessions on Friday afternoon from 5:15 – 5:40 PM, as well as after services.
Upcoming Events
St. Joseph:
• March 18th – Sunday: 4:45 PM, First Vespers of the Feast and Benediction.
• March 19th – Monday: 11:30 AM High Mass and Blessing of Bread, followed by St. Joseph’s Table and Parish Potluck.
A Weekend of Recollection
• March 23rd – Friday: Our regular Lenten Friday evening program of Mass at 5:45 PM; Parish Potluck Plus Supper at approximately 6:45 PM; and finally Stations of the
Cross, Sermon, Sorrowful Mother Novena and Blessing of the Sick, Benediction and Holy Communion beginning at 7:30 PM.
• March 25th – Sunday: At 12:45 PM a delicious Sunday Spaghetti Dinner will be offered as a little fund raiser followed at 2:00 PM by the Medieval Play Everyman, presented by the students, staff and volunteers of St. Gertrude the Great School.
This special Sunday Afternoon will end with the First Vespers of the Feast of Annunciation and Benediction.
• March 26th – Monday: The Feast of the Annunciation. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed after the 11:30 AM High Mass for an afternoon of pro-life adoration and reparation. Closing Benediction is at 5:30 PM, with the final Mass at 5:45 PM.