This Week: Lent III

“Prayer: Transfiguration of the Soul”  –Bp. Charles McGuire

The Bishop’s Note
Last week’s feasts of St. Patrick and St. Joseph, with their subdued joy, brought with them a bit of a spiritual respite that we needed in order to regain the courage to persevere in our Lenten practices. St. Patrick’s Day always brings with it a bit of joy, but it was St. Joseph’s Day that brought so much edification. The Solemn High Mass was splendidly done and the children’s choir did a wonderful job. Mrs. Lotarski kindly made the Hot Cross Buns which Fr. Simpson blessed after Mass. Attendance at Mass was really quite good. It is great to see that devotion to the humble, quiet St. Joseph still perdures. The Saint is, after all, the spouse of Our Lady, Foster Father to Our Lord, and the protector of the Church. He is also the protector of the dying. Oh, how I look back to the deathbeds of my mother and father with gratitude for all that he did for them. It was amazing. Blessed be St. Joseph!

It seems that Tom Simpson, one of our MCs from many years ago, is on his deathbed. I remember that he was my MC at the ordination ceremony. One always felt comfortable having him in the sanctuary. Well, he has been well taken care of spiritually by the clergy in Brooksville, Florida. Squeeze in a few prayers for a Holy Death and the grace of Final Perseverance for Tom. Pray also for his wife, who has been so faithfully taking care of him.

On Saturday, we had our first annual Ladies’ Retreat. I will give a report on it in next week’s bulletin. We are in the midst of planning a Men’s Club and are hoping to get it going in the next few months. Along with that we will also have a Men’s Retreat next Lent, God willing. I bring this up so that the men of the parish do not feel left out. As with everything worth doing, it does take time to organize and also to make sure that no one is getting burned out with all that goes on at our church and in people’s daily lives.

This Tuesday, feast of the Annunciation, is the Children’s Day of Recollection. Dr. Stanislowski and Mr. Caggeso have been busy putting together some booklets for the children to use for the day. A lot goes into a day of recollection, but it is well worth the effort. The whole world is after their souls, so it is very important to give them something to help them towards their salvation. Mass, spiritual talks, quiet prayer, confessions, spiritual reading, and other devotions are part of this big day. I know I am excited about it, and I pray that the children are too!

May Our Lady of Sorrows help you to persevere in your Lenten sacrifices, and may St. Alphonsus be your guide!

– Bishop McGuire

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