Howdy,

I am sure I do not need to tell you that inflation has hit us all fairly hard. Because we have been working on pledges for the rectory, I have been hesitant to talk more about money. Also, because you have been consistently generous to the parish. Having said that, the Finance Council has been discussing next year’s budget and things look to be difficult. In fact, the Finance Council is sending members to the Parish Council meeting to discuss this with them. With summer approaching and many of you will be leaving for a good part of the summer, I need to ask you now to please remember your home parish, even when you are away.

Howdy,

I recently met with the leader of our Walking With Moms in Need ministry. This is a new ministry in our diocese and new in our parish as well. I received a report of their activities thus far and it is amazing. It is a ministry of accompaniment and assistance for mothers in desperate need of help. There can be many reasons for their need, but the problems are great.

Howdy,

With all the languages of the world, it is a huge job to try to keep our liturgical languages as good as possible. We tend to think languages stay the same, but if you think of it, they change and grow constantly.

Recently, the Vatican Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship asked English-speaking countries to make a little change in our Penitential Rites. The required change is in the absolution formula that the priest prays over the penitent: it is a change in one line of the prayer.

Howdy,

Many of us sometimes make the sign of the cross so often that we sometimes do not think about it. Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) in his book, Spirit of the Liturgy, commented on the importance of the common gesture:

The bishops of the Arizona Catholic Conference (ACC) regret that legislation (SB 1600) to protect the lives of babies born alive was just vetoed by Governor Katie Hobbs.

We believe in the dignity of human life from conception until natural death. Unfortunately, it is often the case that the most vulnerable people are the ones who need the most protection, whether it be the disabled people, the elderly, or newborn children.

Blessed Easter to you all,

In 1999, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger wrote a book asking a good question for our world today: “Can there really be special holy places and holy times?” The book is entitled, The Spirit of the Liturgy. While it can get a little technical, it is also very readable and appropriate for Catholics today.

He writes, “Christian worship is surely a cosmic liturgy, which embraces both heaven and earth.” He then asks, “Is the whole world not now God’s sanctuary? Is sanctity not to be practiced by living one’s daily life in the right way?

Howdy,

I pray your Lent was holy and now we enter into the most sacred time of the year: Holy Week. It is like no other week of the year and I hope you are all able to adjust your schedules to enter this week as much as possible.

We begin with Passion Sunday, first with the joyful entry into Jerusalem waving our palm branches and then preparing ourselves by hearing the reading of our Lord’s Passion. Monday the priests of our diocese have a retreat to prepare ourselves for the week. Monday evening is Chrism Mass, when the priests renew their promises and the Holy Oils for the coming year are blessed by Bishop Dolan. Wednesday we have confessions at 5:00pm.

Howdy,

I am sorry for not writing in the weekly bulletin lately; I was in El Salvador with Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos for two weeks and then came home with only one week to move. My lease was up on my apartment and we decided not to pay month-to-month because that is more expensive. To save money I have moved to St. Simon and Jude Cathedral where I will be assigned in July. I cannot tell you how great it is to be back in a rectory with other priests! However, I do have a 45 minute commute back and forth.

In conjunction with the Eucharistic Revival mission to inspire, educate and unite, there will be monthly quotations from Bishop Emeritus Thomas J. Olmsted’s Apostolic Exhortation, Veneremur Cernui– Down in Adoration Falling. The Bishop wrote this letter calling upon priests and laity to embrace a deeper love for and understanding of the Eucharist as the Source and Summit of the Catholic Faith.

Howdy,

Many of you know that February kicks off our annual Diocesan Charity and Development Appeal (CDA). This is how our diocese supports so many outreach programs and ministries throughout our diocese including: Catholic education, Sanctity of Life, support of poorer parishes, and the poor and needy among us.