In our last teleconference with the Bishop, staff and priests of the diocese the consensus indicates the continued restrictions/guidelines at least through Lent and Holy Week. Bishop Nickless desires not just the protection of individuals and families who come to church, but the freedom from anxiety for all Catholic-Christians who share in the Eucharist at any of our Masses. I understand such concerns knowing many individuals who are still hesitant because of existing health conditions. Whoever we are in our parish families, may we always reflect the Christian virtues of hospitality and understanding for the concerns of others.

As we prepare for the full use of our parish hall, and its weekly upkeep, I have hired Karen Korleski to keep up the cleanliness and dignity of our facilities. A few hours each week to maintain the ‘orderliness’ and ‘welcoming’ function of the hall.

Fr. Ross and I will offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation a half an hour before each weekend Mass, and at anytime upon request. Our Lenten Penance Services will take place on Sunday, March 14th, at Sacred Heart, 1pm; and at St. Malachy, 3pm. We will offer the Penance Service at St. John on Sunday, the 21st, at 1pm.

Though our Lenten liturgies and activities will be affected by the Coronavirus guidelines, may we enter this season with the same hope of renewal and ‘conversion’ as in the past, reflecting on our own personal and family attempts of almsgiving, fasting and resolutions. As of now we hope these forty days will guide us into a Holy Week in which the special liturgies will be offered at each church. Various opportunities sponsored by our parishes including The Search format for individuals and groups, devotionals and special rituals such as the Stations of the Cross, (Wednesday & Friday following Mass; Wednesday evening in Madrid, and Monday evening in Ogden following Mass).

In a recent conversation with a friend she echoes the concern shared by many others with the ‘state’ our Catholic faith these last several months. Thus I share the response of C.S. Lewis, a wonderful Christian author: “We can ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God. The world is crowded with Him. He walks everywhere incognito. And the incognito is not always hard to penetrate. The real labour is to remember, to attend. In fact, to come awake. Still more, to remain awake.” May Lent be such a journey.

May I leave you with this reflection proffered from Mark Link’s lectionary based devotional, Mission: Praying Scripture in a Contemporary Way. Linda was a patient in a state mental hospital. She had no faith in God and no faith in the future. Then one day she responded to this sign: Volunteers needed to help the elderly. She said later, “I don’t know why I responded, but I did.” Working with the elderly restored not only Linda’s faith in God but also her faith in the future. “Each day spent with these elderly patients,” she said, “awakened something within me.” Why is it that when I reach out to help others, I often end up helping myself more than I help them?

Blessings on your Lenten journey,
Fr. Tim

“Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” (C.D. Warner)