X

March 17, 2019, 2nd Sunday of Lent, Year C

Dear Friends, 

As we enter more deeply in to the Lenten season, let us be mindful of the fact that every aspect

of Lenten Spiritual observation is geared toward one and only one goal: to celebrate the Paschal Mystery of Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection. If Easter and Resurrection are our ultimate goal, then this season becomes a joyful season whereby we tend to renew our mind and heart to prepare for that supreme event that gives meaning and purpose to our Christian life. This season of Lent provides us ample time and resources to recall those final moments in the life of our Savior, who in no uncertain terms defeated the power of darkness and death. Pope Francis notes in this regard: “The path to Easter demands that we renew our faces and hearts as Christians through repentance, conversion, and forgiveness, so as to live fully the abundant grace of the paschal mystery.”

The traditional practices of Prayer, Fasting, and Alms Giving still continue to prove their mettle for those who intentionally invest in them. In this regard, a particular emphasis has to be placed on our personal relationship with Jesus in prayer. If you have not yet had a chance tovisit the Adoration Chapel, I urge you to do so now. I assure you that you will be filled with Peace and Serenity and Joy. Please make it a point to sign up to be a regular adorer. We would be immensely pleased if you can adore for an hour a week. We are blessed with so many people from different walks of life who intentionally set aside an hour despite their busy schedules. Included in them are doctors, dentists, nurses, engineers, aerospace workers, technicians, computer engineers, and many others from different backgrounds that keep them busy. We are always very grateful to our women, who always outnumber men when it comes to prayer and spiritual exercises. I do see our teens spending time in adoration. Hence, please do not think that it is not something for you. You can always find some time in your schedule to visit the Adoration Chapel and pray. Your prayers bring such a blessing to our parish, to our families, to our nation, and to the Mother Church.

I take this occasion to call your attention to our Lenten Mission 2019 to be held from Sunday, March 24, through Tuesday, March 26, 2019. Each evening, we will begin at 7 p.m. This year, we are blessed to have Fr. Joseph V. Corpora, C.S.C. He comes to us with so many backgrounds. He has been pastor of two of our Holy Cross Administered parishes. Fr. Joe is the Director of University-School Partnerships and works on the Catholic School Advantage Campaign. This Campaign is a Notre Dame initiative seeking to make Catholic schools available, affordable, and accessible to Latino children and families. Fr. Joe also works in Campus Ministry and with first-generation college students. In December of 2015, Pope Francis appointed him as a Missionary of Mercy. In the spring of 2016, Corby Books published his first book, The Relentless Mercy of God: Reflections on Serving as Missionary of Mercy. In December of 2018, Corby Books published his second book, Being Mercy: The Path to Becoming Fully Alive. Needless to say, he will be speaking to us on the mercy of God so infinitely lavished upon us. He will help us focus on all that God has given to us and on our responsibility to keep learning and growing in our faith. Because Fr. Joe is a Missionary of Mercy, I have requested him to be available to hear confessions on Monday and Tuesday of the Mission from 5 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. Please make use of his presence to experience the rich and abundant mercy of God.

On Wednesday, March 20, 2019, we will have Alan Ames from Australia, a Catholic Evangelist with the gift of healing, presenting a talk soon after the Mass at 7 p.m. Join us if you can and experience the healing power of God.

This week, we celebrate the 2nd Sunday of Lent, when we are invited to reflect upon the theme of the Transfiguration of Jesus. Peter, James, and John were offered glimpses into the divine life of God. May the joy of this time of prayer open our eyes to the glory of God present all around us.

Let God surprise you this Lent with his Mercy and Forgiveness! With love,
Fr. John