Entries for March 2023

DO YOU LOVE JESUS?

As we begin Holy Week, I know we all want to say an emphatic “YES” to the question! Of all the weeks of the Church Year, this is the week to show our love for God! What I do with my time clearly shows who and what is important to me. It is often said that at the end of life, no one will say that they wished they had spent more time at work, rather, they wished they had spent more time with God and their family. This Holy Week, Jesus asks You, what he asked Peter, James, and John, “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?"

CONFESSIONS

PALM SUNDAY— after the 7, 9 and 11 a.m. Masses
RECONCILIATION NIGHT—Wednesday, April 5, from 5 to 7 p.m.
GOOD FRIDAY—after the Noon and 7 p.m. service

HOLY WEEK and EASTER SCHEDULE

HOLY THURSDAY — April 6 (NO morning Mass)
10:00 a.m. Chrism Mass at the Cathedral
7:00 p.m. Mass of the Lord’s Supper - Followed by Adoration at the Altar of Repose until 10 p.m.
GOOD FRIDAY — April 7 (NO Masses on Good Friday)
12:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross
7:00 p.m. Celebration of the Lord’s Passion with Holy Communion
HOLY SATURDAY — April 8
(NO morning Mass and NO 5:00 p.m. Mass)
7:00 p.m. Easter Vigil Mass

EASTER SUNDAY — April 9 - - Masses at 7:00, 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.

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PREPARING FOR HOLY WEEK WITH FATHER RICHARD GIELOW

Father Richard Gielow is a gifted, dynamic, inspiring preacher of the Word of God. I hope you can be with us all three nights of the Mission!

SCHEDULE

SUNDAY EVENING, MARCH 26 — 7 to 8 p.m.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Special Preaching, and Benediction

MONDAY EVENING, MARCH 27 — 7 p.m.

Lenten Mass followed by the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing

TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 28— 7 p.m.

Lenten Mass followed by the opportunity to receive God’s loving Forgiveness and Mercy.

HOLY WEEK

PALM SUNDAY——–———– Saturday, April 1, at 5 p.m.; Sunday, April 2 at 7, 9, & 11 a.m.

RECONCILIATION NIGHT—Wednesday, April 5, from 5 to 7 p.m.

HOLY THURSDAY—–——–-Thursday, April 6, NO morning Mass; Chrism Mass at the Cathedral at 10 a.m.; Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7 p.m. followed by Adoration at the Altar of Repose until 10 p.m.

GOOD FRIDAY——————Friday, April 7, (No Masses on Good Friday)

Stations of the Cross at 12 p.m.; Celebration of the Lord’s Passion with Holy Communion at 7 p.m.

HOLY SATURDAY——–———Saturday, April 8, EASTER VIGIL MASS AT 7 p.m.

EASTER SUNDAY——–———Sunday, April 9, Masses at 7a.m., 9a.m., and 11 a.m.

CONFESSIONS

Every Saturday throughout the year———3:30 to 4:45 p.m.

Every Sunday in Lent——————–——after the 7, 9, and 11 a.m. Masses

Wednesday, April 5—–————————5 to 7 p.m.

GOOD FRIDAY—–—————————after Noon and after the 7 p.m. services

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JESUS SAYS, “COME TO ME”

Imagine receiving an invitation from Our Savior Jesus Christ! A Parish Mission is a personal invitation from God. It is a major event meant to help everyone who participates to grow in the understanding of their Catholic Faith, to deepen their relationship with God, and to enable everyone to fulfill the commission Jesus gives to all the Baptized — to be God’s instrument to share the Gift of Faith.

MISSION SCHEDULE

Father Richard Gielow, Congregation of the Mission will begin our Lenten Mission by preaching next weekend’s Masses (March 25/26).

SUNDAY NIGHT — (3/26) — 7 to 8 p.m.Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Preaching, and Benediction.

MONDAY NIGHT — (3/27) —7 p.m Holy Mass followed by Anointing of the Sick

The Anointing of the Sick is not Extreme Unction. The Sacrament of the Sick confers Sanctifying Grace. The conferral of this Anointing is meant to comfort and strengthen the sick person, quiets anxiety, dissipates fear, and gives strength to face doubt and despondency, when faced with surgery, recovery from it, growing elderly, addictions of various sorts, unrelenting pain, and grave illness.

TUESDAY NIGHT— (3/28) — 7 p.m.Holy Mass followed by the opportunity for the Sacrament of Christ’s Loving Forgiveness with several priests available. Saint John Paul II reminds us that Jesus is really present. We actually speak with Jesus heart to heart. He suffered, died, and rose for us while we were yet in our sins. God wants to give you inner peace and strength to be more like Jesus!

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LENTEN PARISH MISSION YOU ARE INVITED!

Beginning on our Parish Feast Day of the Annunciation, March 25, we welcome Father Richard Gielow of the Congregation of the Mission.Father Gielow will be living here at the rectory. I have prepared a list of days and times Father Gielow would be available for a visit or a meeting. Simply call the rectory to make an appointment.

Father Gielow will preach the weekend Sunday Masses on March 25/26. The Lenten MISSION schedule is as follows:

• Sunday evening, 3/26, 7 to 8 p.m.—Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Special Preaching, and Benediction
• Monday evening 3/27, 7 p.m. Lenten Mass followed by the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing
• Tuesday evening 3/28, 7 p.m. Lenten Mass followed by the opportunity to receive God’s loving Forgiveness and Mercy.

About Fr. Gielow

Father Gielow holds a degrees in Philosophy, Theology and Religious Education from Catholic University of America. He is also listed in “Who’s Who in America” as a well-known preacher and retreat director. Currently, Father Gielow is the Director of the Vincentian Parish Mission Center, National Spiritual Advisor to the Ladies of Charity of USA, and National Spiritual Advisor to Fraternal Organization KSKJ.

Vincentian Mission Prayer

Divine Savior, transform me into yourself. May my hands be your hands. May my tongue be my tongue. Grant that every faculty of my body May serve only to glorify you. Above all, transform my soul and all its powers, that my memory, my will and my affections, may be the memory, the will and the affections of You. I pray You to destroy in me, all that not of you. Grant that I may live but in you, and by You, and for You, and that I may truly say with St. Paul, “I live now, not I, but Christ lives in me.”

MEN AND WOMEN

Your parish is in need of Ushers at the 5pm Mass on Saturday and the 7,9,11 am Masses on Sunday mornings. Please sign up by calling Dodie or Linda at the rectory (314-993-4422). We will be able to get a substitute when you are out of town. Ushering is a great way to help out your parish.

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LENTEN PARISH MISSION MARCH 25–28

Beginning on our Parish Feast Day of the Annunciation, March 25, we welcome back Father Richard Gielow of the Congregation of Mission, who last visited in 2017. Father Gielow will be living here at the rectory. I have prepared a list of days and times Father Gielow would be available for a visit or a meeting. Simply call the rectory to make an appointment. Father Gielow will preach the weekend Sunday Masses on March 25/26. The Lenten MISSION schedule is as follows:

• Sunday evening, 3/26, 7 to 8 p.m.—Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Special Preaching, and Benediction
• Monday evening 3/27, 7 p.m. Lenten Mass followed by the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing
• Tuesday evening 3/28, 7 p.m. Lenten Mass followed by the opportunity to receive God’s loving Forgiveness and Mercy.

FORGIVENESS AND MERCY

Looking back on the first week of Lent, the Evangelist, St. Matthew, shares the Words of Jesus, “If you forgive others their transgressions, your Heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

Lent reminds us that mercy is at the heart of the Gospel message and the essential importance that forgiveness plays in our lives. I need, we need, to acknowledge that Forgiveness is God’s nature. Jesus is clear that He did not come to call the righteous, but to call sinners to repentance. The mercy of God the Father, who welcomes sinners with open arms and propels us to conversion, is a gift to everyone seeking it and is meant to be shared with others.

If I, if you, have been forgiven by God for your sins, God calls us to forgive others for theirs. Forgiveness is not only in God’s nature, but it is required of those who have received it. We can ask God for help when we find it difficult to understand what it means to forgive or how to do it. May we never forget that forgiving others is necessary for our own healing and freedom.

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