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Happy Lent Friend,
CONFESSION- I have a confession to make! I just love confessions! What is the whole point of our life? To live in Communion with God forever celebrating his love! What is the one thing that keeps us from the whole point of our life? Sin! What does confession do? It takes away sin so that we fully enjoy God 's unending life of love!
Speaking of confessions, I have heard a lot of them over the last two weeks! On Saturday, March 15, I had two of my diocesan brother priests here helping me hear the 42 first confessions of our children who will receive their first communion on May 3. I urged the parents- the first and greatest of teachers of the faith to their children- to go to confession to be a good model and many of them did! Plus, the whole parish was invited to come to that confession time and many did. On Tuesday morning March 25, we had about 150 of our academy students for confessions. And just two days ago on May 26, we had adoration in the main church along with confessions from 4 to 6 PM. I heard confessions for 2 1/2 hours straight! So powerful! And we will have adoration and confessions next Wednesday, April 2 from 4 to 6 PM in the church. And if that doesn't work, just get a hold of me and we will set up a time for confession!
After I hear the children's confessions, I have them two classes at a time, I ask them to gather in the center aisle of the church to share their experience and then we give thanks to God. Some of the responses were this: "A weight was taken off my shoulders" "I have peace" "I can start new again" "It was like I was breathing polluted air and now it is fresh"! How good is that?
I have literally thousands of confession stories where the power of God's mercy has made someone brand new! Could it get any better than that?
Talk about confession! Beloved Jim Casey turned 100 years old on March 24. He is a remarkable man of faith and the light of Jesus shines through him to point us to heaven. Jim sits in the front row at Daily mass every day of the week and comes to 8 AM mass on Sunday mornings. If we have any excuses for not going to mass, maybe we should have a little talk with Jim? Also, it is very important for Jim to experience God's mercy in confession. When I announce that I am having confessions after a daily mass, you better watch out because Jim will run you over to get there! We all smile about that because of the fervor and goodness of Jim's heart because of his faith. He just wants to be right with God and share God's love with all! Thank you for being such a great witness, Jim!
Last thing. Ricky is in the Marines, and he just deployed two days ago. Last weekend he became Catholic at our 10 AM mass. He is an awesome young man and is going to marry Janina who was at my last church with me for 15 years at Saint Joseph the Worker in Portland, Oregon. I have their wedding in June 2026. In preparation for his reception into the church last Sunday, Ricky came to me for confession. When I gave him absolution, it was like he was blown back in his chair and stunned. Dazed by Grace! God's infinite mercy!
Suggestion? Make a good confession and be blown away by God's infinite mercy waiting for you in this amazing sacrament!
+Fr. John Amsberry
Pictured: Jim Casey at his 100th Birthday Party with Father John
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