March 27th – Fourth Sunday of Lent
Dear Friends in Christ,
Almost one month ago, on the day of Ash Wednesday, you and I were invited to return to the Lord with our whole hearts as we boldly, yet humbly, embarked upon our Lenten pilgrimage. At Holy Mass this weekend, we hear St. Paul encouraging us to make our return to the Lord with haste.
“We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Cor 5:20).
Lent is a privileged time for us Catholics to return to the Lord through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In addition to our regularly scheduled times for Confession, please consider availing yourself of this gift of reconciliation next Saturday, April 2, at 10:00 am at St. Hedwig during our Lenten Penance Service.
May God bless you!
Fr. Michael Malucha
March 20th – Third Sunday of Lent
Dear Friends,
Peace of a Christ and a blessed Third Sunday in Lent! In our first reading from the book of Exodus we encounter the beautiful revelation of God in the burning bush. How it must have inspired awe and wonder in Moses as he beheld this mystery: “As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed”.
Some of the Fathers of the Church saw in the image of the burning bush a “type” or foreshadowing of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Just as the bush was completely aflame, yet not consumed, so too was Mary completely aflame with God’s love by the Immaculate Conception, yet her freedom and humanity were not consumed. In other words, the Church Fathers saw in Mary one of the beautiful paradoxes of our faith – that God desires to permeate our entire being with His grace, yet always respecting our freedom and humanity.
This Friday, March 25, we take a little “pause” in our Lenten pilgrimage as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation. God’s invitation to Mary to become the mother of God is another beautiful example of this paradox between the totality of His grace, yet an invitation that always respects our freedom. A rare Solemnity on a Friday during Lent means yes, you can eat meat, and I hope it’s a beautiful day to celebrate!
While so much in the world can lend itself to discouragement, I’m grateful for the gift of our Blessed Mother and for the hope and joy she always brings.
May your Lent continue to be blessed…and please party this Friday! Our Lady of the Annunciation, pray for us!
Sincerely, with love,
Fr. John
March 13th – Second Sunday of Lent
“We Belong to One Another: Journeying Through Lent with The Riverwest Food Pantry”
Dear Friends,
As we move forward through these 40 Days of Lent, we experience Jesus’ move from the Desert of Temptation to the Mountain of Glory, the Transfiguration. We strive to discern the glory amid the agony of limits. And the limits that fill the hearts of us, Abraham’s descendants, are as numerous as the stars of the sky!
I don’t know about you, but I need Lent more than ever! I need to regain focus in all that is happening in our troubled world and our suffering Church. Be it the brave struggle of our beloved friends in the Ukraine or the beloved shoppers and workers at Riverwest Food Pantry, I am filled with inspiration and challenge that occur so often, but which I sometimes in my busy-ness and self-importance fail to notice.
The drowsy disciples had to stop sleeping in order to see the Transfiguration, and we too are called to open our eyes to the glory that is unfolding even in the midst of struggle and suffering. We need to focus on Jesus Christ, and let His light lead us from painful self-preoccupation and division to a compassionate glory that has always been present to those who believe in God.
Let’s continue to focus on Jesus—to pray without ceasing, fast from any darkness and despair, and give with open hearts to those in need. We await Easter!
Sincerely, with love,
Fr. Tim
Please continue in your sacrifice to remember the Riverwest Food Pantry. Contributions can be made through their website or the envelopes provided in the pews of our churches.
March 6th – First Sunday of Lent
Dear Friends in Christ,
Marked with ashes, we began this past week our annual Lenten pilgrimage, not proudly, but humbly, as the Church invites each of us again to heed our Lord’s invitation to return to Him with our whole hearts.
At Holy Mass this weekend, we hear of another return proclaimed in the Gospel, that of the return of our Lord from His own baptism in the Jordan to the desert in which he is tempted by the evil one.
If we are sincere in our desire to return to the Lord this Lent, then the desert cannot be avoided for you and for me. The desert is not a place to be feared, but rather the place in which we can be known and loved by the Lord, a place where all is laid bare and anything that is not of God can be stripped away.
Into the desert the Church goes this weekend, and invites each of us to follow, not alone, but with one another and, together, we return to Jesus, who from the desert then returns to Galilee to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord (Luke 4:19).
This is the acceptable time to return to the Lord. On behalf of Fr. Tim and Fr. John, a most blessed Lent!
Very truly yours,
Fr. Michael Malucha
