In itself mercy is the greatest of the virtues. –St. Thomas Aquinas
Last week, we continued our discussion by diving into Chapter One: “The Church’s Missionary Transformation”. Our conversation centered on embodying a Church that goes forth and a house with the doors always open. Please find below some questions for your personal prayer…
How’s Your Lent?
We are now in the third week of Lent – a great to time to reset!
Come to Holy Hour to re-invigorate your Lenten commitments and enliven your prayer!
This weekend, March 2-3, the 2024 Catholic Appeal will officially launch here in our parishes and across the Archdiocese. One of the most meaningful ways that we witness the presence of Christ and deepen the impact of our Church’s ministries is by supporting the Catholic Appeal.
As your pastor, I invite you to prayerfully consider extending your generosity to this year’s appeal. Many of you have already done so and I am deeply grateful. When our parishes reach their financial targets and participation goals, a portion of the additional funds received will be returned to us for use in our parishes.
Last week, we opened our study with the Introduction… Here are some questions for your prayer and consideration to support your study of the Introduction:
1. Have you ever experienced a powerful sensation of joy in the midst of what would otherwise be a challenging time?
2. What does a renewed personal encounter with Christ look like this Lenten season?
3. What are some examples in scripture of people who have experienced an overwhelming joy whose source is the Lord?
This week, we will be diving into “Chapter One: The Church’s Missionary Transformation”. To enrich your study we are offering a Lenten Podcast featuring our beloved late Priest in Residence, Father John Connelly…
Please join us in the lower Chapel at St. John for a Lenten afternoon poetry reading and discussion led by Rev. Tom Fitzpatrick, SJ, from Weston’s Campion Center.
Father Tom has been a Jesuit for 64 years and a priest for 51. His writing reveals a lifelong spiritual journey with God. He uses humor and images of nature, with simple and direct language, to make God real for us.
Fr. Tom founded the Jesuit Center in Amman, Jordan, and remained as director for 14 years. He also served as director of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Jerusalem for 10 years, and taught for more than 10 years at Fairfield University.
Are you a teen? Has it been a while since your last confession? Are you a little nervous about it but really want to receive the sacrament? Come join the Youth Ministry Team for this special reconciliation service – there will be music, a brief reading from scripture, a short reflection, and a walk through an examination of conscience. The Youth Ministry team will help guide you through all the steps to leaving a little lighter and filled with God’s mercy!
Are you receiving Confirmation this spring? There is no better way to prepare to receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit!
Interested, but not sure if you’ll feel ready to receive the sacrament on Friday night? That’s OK – please come anyway, and encourage your friends to come too! There will be no pressure, just an open invitation to experience God’s love and mercy.
Once a year, Catholics throughout the Archdiocese are asked to partner with one another to support their parish and the many outreach ministries by contributing to the Catholic Appeal. Many of you received a letter from Cardinal Seán requesting your early support of the 2024 Appeal, and I know that many of our parishioners have already responded – for that, I am deeply grateful.
On the weekend of March 2-3, the 2024 Catholic Appeal will officially launch across the Archdiocese. One of the most meaningful ways that we witness the presence of Christ and deepen the impact of our Church’s ministries is by supporting the Catholic Appeal. As your pastor, I strongly encourage you to join me in giving a gift to this year’s appeal…
On the first Friday in Lent, this poem by George Herbert – and its theme of God’s love and forgiveness – was a focus of discussion and prayer.
Love (III)
Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,
If I lacked anything.
A guest, I answered, worthy to be here:
Love said, You shall be he
The second assembly of the Synod of Bishops on synodality will meet in Rome October 2-27 and will be preceded by several formal studies coordinated by the synod general secretariat working with various offices of the Roman Curia. The fall assembly will be preceded by a retreat for members September 30 – October 1, the Vatican said…
My dear friends in Christ,
Leper. That is all we know of him. Deemed ritually impure, he was banished from society. He had lost everything: his family, his community… even his name. Leper. This classification became his identity. That is, until he encountered Jesus. Perhaps Jesus could help him. He was desperate. It was worth a shot. He knelt down before him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.”
Jesus’ response is astonishing, beginning with the compassion which motivated his actions. Our translation “moved with pity” doesn’t begin to capture the power of the Greek verb σπλαγχνίζομαι (splanchnizomai). Jesus was moved from the depths of his being…