2nd Week of Lent

03-17-2019Weekly ReflectionFr. James Aboyi

Dear Parishioners,

A very big thank you to everyone for a very successful Rummage Sale last weekend. Special thanks to all those who helped organize the event, those who donated items and those who participated at the sale. The turnout was very impressive this year! Although we are still in the process of tallying, I understand we made above $9,000 as of last weekend.

Thanks, also, to those who have participated in the Charity and Development Appeal (CDA) from our parish. The recent report we got this week indicated we have raised a total of $82,814 in pledges, representing 97% of our total goal of $85,000. This amount is coming from 12% of our parishioners. I encourage those who have not sent their donations to please remember to do so. The CDA envelopes are located at the entrances of the church.

This Second Week of Lent is the period when so many people have a lapse in their Lenten promises. The readings today remind us not to give up but to look up and keep our eyes fixed on our goals. Just as, in the first reading and in the Gospel today, God showed Abraham and the three disciples the glorious blessings that lie ahead of them. So too, we are invited today to look ahead to the joy of Easter and the glory of the Resurrection that lies ahead of us. It pays to let go of something during this period of Lent, to make sacrifices in order to purify and prepare ourselves to share in the joys of the Risen Christ.

Wishing everyone a happy St. Patrick's Day. Unfortunately, we cannot observe St. Patrick's Feast Day liturgically this year as it falls on a Sunday. However, we still remember him in a special way on this day. St. Patrick, commonly known as the "Apostle of Ireland and Scotland," is one of the most popular saints in the world and one of the few saints whose feast days are celebrated by Christians and non-Christians in many parts of the world. His faith and love for the people of Ireland inspired so many people that led to the explosive growth of vocation to the priesthood and Religious Life, making Ireland the most missionary country in the world for decades after his death. The use of a shamrock and wearing green on his Feast Day, March 17, are attributed to one of his homilies on the Holy Trinity when he used a shamrock to illustrate the doctrine of the three persons in one God. He is also popularly known because of a legend that he went to the mountain and prayed over Ireland banishing snakes from the entire land.

Thank you and Remain Blessed.
Fr. James