Bring LENT to LIFE

Spirituality With A View

Greetings!

It seems like just yesterday we were lighting the Advent candles and enjoying the lights of the Christmas tree, and now on February 26, we shift to the sacred season of Lent to prepare for the celebration of Easter.

This year, our parish will participate in the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Rice Bowl. Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic Church in the United States, overseen by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). By supporting the work of CRS, you are supporting the humanitarian efforts of the Catholic Church at home and abroad.

Rice Bowls and the accompanying calendar will be blessed and distributed at all the Masses on the weekend of February 22 and 23 so you can start using them on Ash Wednesday, February 26. Bring Lent to Life by following the calendar and the on-line resources. If you are not able to pick up a Rice Bowl at the church, you can order one free of charge at crsricebowl.org . The bowls will be collected on the second weekend of Easter, April 18 and 19.

(Note: The rice bowl and calendar will replace our usual Lenten Devotional).

I remember as a child receiving my Rice Bowl each year during Religious Education. I was always excited to try and live up to the challenges it gave me and to appreciate all that I had been blessed with. I especially loved reading about the different people in the world CRS helped and looking at the recipes that were included (though I’ll be honest, we were never brave enough to cook any of them). The calendar provides activities and opportunities for reflection for both children and adults.

My Lenten sacrifices helped me feel connected to my sisters and brothers throughout the world, and helped me feel that I could do something small to help. While 75% of all the funds collected by CRS Rice Bowl go to assist humanitarian programs overseas, the balance of 25% will stay in our diocese to assist our own charitable efforts. By supporting CRS Rice Bowl, you are answering the call of the Gospel to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, and care for the sick and the stranger.

One of CRS’ mottos is that we are “One Human Family”. Our attitude cannot be that of Cain who answered God “Am I my brother’s keeper?” We are all responsible for each other. And if one part of the body suffers then it is up to us to help alleviate that suffering in any way we can.

As we begin this Lenten journey of growth and renewal, please read the bulletin and our newsletter e-mails for suggestions on how you can engage more deeply with our Parish Lenten theme “Tapping into the Living Waters of Christ”. Jesus offers the Living Water which heals us, satisfies us, and overflows from within us to renew our weary world.

May we walk together toward the Easter Dawn so that we too can sing that ancient and triumphant hymn: “Christ is Risen!”

Your brother,

It's also CSA Time!

CATHOLIC SERVICES APPEAL (CSA)

The annual Catholic Services Appeal provides another opportunity for us to answer Christ’s call and to renew our personal commitment to His work in the Church. Together, as Christian stewards and disciples, one of the ways we live out the Gospel mission of our Church is through our support of CSA.

CSA donations fund seminarian education, our priest pensions, and many evangelizing ministries like adult faith formation, religious education for adults and youth, and ethnic ministries. It also helps keep our rural parishes open and funds the Newman Center at the University of Reno..

It was with the help of our CSA donations that Father Chris (before he was Father Chris) joined the Newman center while in college and it was with the help of our CSA donations that Father Chris attended the seminary. We are blessed to have Father Chris and we need a lot more priests like him for the future of our Diocese!

If you did not receive a brochure and pledge form in the mail, please request one here.

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St. Francis Assisi Catholic Church

701 Mount Rose Hwy

Incline Village, NV 89451

(775) 831-0490

helenn@sftahoe.org