March 4, 2007 – Lent II – St. Casimir, C. – St Lucius I, PM
Today is the First Sunday of the Month. Our Special Second Collection is for: Seminary Support. The Blessing of Religious Articles follows all Masses.
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.
Alter Christus
The “little church” is in the vestibule this morning. The ushers are collecting alms for the Alter Christus Confraternity to support priests who might not otherwise receive help. Please be generous.
Sorrowful Mother Novena
We are now in the sixth week of our Novena to the Sorrowful Mother with the Blessing of the Sick. This devotion takes place every Friday evening after the Stations of the Cross and Sermon. Call or write in to the office the first names of those who are sick, and those for whom you would like us to pray.
Stations In Lent
At 3:00 PM on Wednesday, we offer the traditional Children’s Stations of the Cross and Holy Communion.
At 7:30 PM every Friday in 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
The Friday night Lenten Parish Potluck Plus Suppers continue, following the Mass and before Stations of the Cross. The “theme nights” have proven to be a big success. There’s always plenty of food, and the attendance is growing. Won’t you join us?
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!
Next Sunday
Next Sunday is the Second Sunday of the Month. Early Vespers for Lent are even earlier! “Grab a bite and head back in for 1:00 PM Vespers and Benediction.”
Next Sunday is also Time Change Day – Daylight Saving Time Begins. Please remember “spring forward for Spring” and set your clocks one hour ahead before you go to bed Saturday night. If you forget, you could awaken too late to be at the Mass you normally would attend.
Set your missal: March 11th. Lent III with the commemorations of Our Lady and all the Saints and for the Living and the Dead. Pref: Lent.
Holy Helper Volunteers
Saturday, March 10th: Katie Bischak, Regina Gilliam and Beth Brueggemann.
Attention Cooks!
If you have any dishes or cookware that may be missing, please check Helfta Hall. All non-church dishes have been set out for today only. Any dishes not picked up will become church property.
Upcoming Events
ST. JOSEPH:
• March 18th – Sunday: 1:00 PM, First Vespers of the Feast of St. Joseph & Benediction.
• March 19th – Monday: 11:30 AM High Mass and Blessing of Bread, followed by St. Joseph’s Table a Parish Potluck and Festive Vespers & Benediction.
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 the 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.
The Paschal Sacraments
First Testing & First Confessions: Saturday, April 21st. (Baptismal Certificate 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.
Our First Annual Jog-A-Thon
Did you pick up your packet last week? Have you signed up any sponsors yet? How many miles do you thing you can walk? Remember, we’re trying to reach out to the community to help bring in funds for our church, school and youth groups. To do this we need everyone in the parish to get involved in this great event. The Jog-A-Thon is scheduled for April 28th, and that’s not very far off. Did you look over the information? Do you have any questions? There will be someone in Helfta Hall to answer any questions. This can be a really great fund raiser if everyone takes part. Pick up a packet of forms and information today. If you need additional sponsor forms you will find them in the Book Store.
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.
Thank You!
The lovely white roses in honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, that were placed on either side of Our Lady of Consolation’s shrine last Sunday were donated by Mrs. Edna Harpen, for the intention of her son Sgt. Rafael Harpen, who is ill.
Comments & Queries Corner
• The only days of Partial Abstinence for all (from age 7 on up) are the Ember Wednesdays and Saturdays, and certain vigils as noted. Do not confuse the partial abstinence which is imposed by fasting (for those from 21 – 59 years) with these other days which bind everyone.
• St. Leonard of Port Maurice, a great Franciscan preacher of the 18th century, is the saint holding the skull on the Epistle side of the church. St. Leonard popularized the Way of the Cross. Next to him is the Curé of Ars, then Our Lady of the Rosary, with St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena. Our Lady of the Pillar is in the back corner next the organ.
• From the back of the church on the Gospel side we have: The Infant Sacred Heart, the Guardian Angel with the Child Jesus and a child, the Holy Child Jesus, Doctor of the Sick, St. John the Evangelist, St. Philomena, the Crucifix, and St. Pius V. St. Mary Magdalene is next to Our Lady Help of Christian at the side altar. Our Lady of Consolation is on the side in front of the Communion Rail.
• The Sanctuary Saints, from the Gospel side to the Epistle, are: St. Anthony of Padua, St. Louis of France, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, St. Gertrude the Great, St. Rita of Cascia, St. Hedwig and St. Therese of Lisieux.
• For Lent, the Holy Face picture is hanging where typically the Holy Family statue would stand. St. Patrick is next to St. Joseph’s altar, St. Albert the Great is in the corner of the side chapel with Our Lady of Lourdes and the celebrated Scourged Christ. The pictures are Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Our Lady of Good Success, Our Lady of Good Counsel, and Our Lady of Guadalupe, Empress of the Americas.
• Someone wrote in to complain, nicely, about the cold church. The truth of the matter is that the ventilation/heating/air conditioning of our new church presents many problems. Sister and I run all over the place all Sunday long to fine-tune it for everyone’s comfort. If we open the side windows a bit in winter, it is because the sanctuary (which has no ventilation) is getting very hot and stuffy.
May we suggest that chilly Catholics take a seat on the Gospel Side, far from the offending windows? For the rest, please bear with us, or even just “offer it up,” as my mother would say. It might be awhile before we get to build another church…
In Your Charity…Please pray for Pat Kolb and Andy DeBrosse, who both are sick
and in need of your prayers.