Pastor's Weekly Message
Dear Fellow Saints-in-the-Making,
Greetings in Christ Jesus, Who Is Our Greatest Gain!
As we cross the threshold of this Fifth Sunday of Lent, we prepare our heart, soul, and whole self for the Sacred Mysteries that will unfold beginning next Sunday with the Passion of the Lord (Palm Sunday) that ushers in Holy Week, the holiest of all weeks in our liturgical year.
The readings this Sunday prepare us for the profound holiness to which God Our Father calls us. St. Paul writes that everything is loss but Christ alone Who is Gain, for we are to die to self by sharing His Sufferings and so rise with Him. In the Gospel, Our Merciful Lord Jesus does not condemn the woman caught in adultery because He sees her with the Eyes of God: as a person worth saving. Are there people we have condemned, if even “only” in our hearts? Let us remember that Jesus identifies whatever we do in heart as being done in deed and therefore equally sinful. Let us forgive as we ourselves have been forgiven.
Since Jesus tells the woman caught in adultery to “Go and sin no more,” so He invites us to do the same. This Wednesday April 9 the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered at 5pm in both the church and the PLC where ELEVEN Priests will hear confessions. Please go directly to either church or PLC to have your Confession heard as no formal service will precede Confessions. Please do NOT wait until Holy Week for Confession as your wait will be MUCH less on April 9.
Please keep our Catechumens and Candidates in prayer as they complete the Third Scrutiny this weekend and prepare to enter into Full Communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil.
God love you! I do.
Fr. Lewis
PARISH RECONCILIATION SERVICE
In addition to the other published days, St. Jude will offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesday April 9 at 5pm in both the church and the PLC. There will be TWELVE Priests available to hear Confessions that evening, which will vastly reduce your wait time. Please, do NOT wait for Holy Week for the Sacrament where there will be only two or three Priests available and so you may have to wait a long time before making your Confession.
Update on Extending Our Arms Expanding Our Hearts
Some have wondered if there will be additional seating for those with mobility issues once the church has been expanded. Please be assured that this need was anticipated long ago during the planning stages of the design of the church expansion for the convenience of all our parishioners, including those who require the assistance of walkers and wheelchairs. It is our every intention for all in our parish family to feel comfortably at home at St. Jude.