I pray this note finds you happy, healthy and holy. Lent is a great opportunity to open our hearts to God’s grace, and if by chance you haven’t been as committed to your Lenten observances as you could be, make that choice today and renew your commitment.  There are a number of opportunities to encounter Christ more fully throughout Lent, and I’d like to highlight some of them for you.

First, our parish now has the Saint Jerome library located across the hall from the welcome center in what used to be a coat closet. There are books for adults and children that can either be brought home or used during Mass. Make sure to stop in and “check it out” next time you’re at church.

Second, avail yourself of the great gift of spending time with Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration either during our usual weekly adoration times or during our new monthly Encounter Nights.

Third, give yourself the opportunity to receive forgiveness from Almighty God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Easter. This is a wonderful Sacrament where God shares his unconditional love with us. Easter joy becomes all the more real when we have the love of God dwelling in our souls after a good Confession.

Lastly, holy week will be here before we know it and I invite you now to carve some time out of these holy days to participate in the Triduum liturgies. On Holy Thursday, we commemorate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, where our Lord washed the disciples' feet and instituted the most holy Eucharist. On Good Friday, we journey with our Lord in his passion and death where he offered himself to the Father to pay the price for our sin. On holy Saturday we celebrate the Easter Vigil, which is the most unique and beautiful liturgy of the year. During this Mass,18 participants of our RCIA class will be brought into full communion with the Catholic Church.

These are grace filled days in which we are living. May we be generous in giving our Time to God in these last days of Lent to enter into deeper love with Jesus.

In Christ,

Fr. Schultz