Dear Friends,
We have immersed ourselves in the season of Lent and have been cherishing our time spent in prayer, fasting and charity in order to draw closer to Christ. We are called every day to live our life to the full. In a very special manner Lent affords us the nurturing time so that our imitation of Christ is strengthened every passing year. Joan Chittister says: “Lent is about becoming, doing and changing whatever it is that is blocking the fullness of life in us right now... Lent is a summons to live life anew”. Yes dear friends let us live our life to the full and in the presence of our living God.
Once again I 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 a rich background. He has been the pastor of two of our Holy Cross Administered parishes. Currently 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.
I had sent an email alerting you of the ingenious ways in which some obnoxious and perverted people have been using my contact emails and phone numbers sending messages asking for money or gift cards purportedly to help someone who is sick or dying or stranded oversees.Hence please be alerted that any such message or email asking for money that way is purely a SCAM. And please do not be gullible enough to send any money to any one cheating you. There are people out there exploiting your innocence. They will use any name to get what they want.
I also want to bring to your attention a new movie titled “UNPLANNED” to be screened on 28th March 2019 at the Avenue theaters. This movie is based on a true story of conversion of woman who worked for Planned Parenthood. Because of the heinous and atrocious and murderous activities happening there her heart was so completely changed that she is now one of the prominent ambassadors of Pro-Life. The movie will be screened at 7.30 and 10 p.m. from Thursday 28th March through Sunday 31st March. Please support LIFE.
Today we celebrate the 3rd Sunday in Lent and the clarion call this weekend is to REPENT.God is extending His mercy but then it doesn’t make sense as the owner of the fig tree orchard thinks. “If it doesn’t bear fruit, cut it down.” But Christ is infinitely merciful, He keeps extending His mercy. He is like the gardener who pleads to the owner: “Leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down” (Luke 13:1-9). Lent is a time to cultivate, to nourish, to enrich our relationship with Christ and ultimately bear fruit. Please do not postpone any further.
Let God find you bearing fruits in your life this Lent! Be Blessed!
With love,
Fr. John