Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

First, we give a very warm welcome to our Bishop, the Most Rev. Robert Guglielmone, who is here to bless the new mosaic of the Blessed Mother in the garden after the 11am Mass. Be sure to wish him also a happy anniversary of his ordination as Bishop!

As we begin Holy Week, allow yourself to walk with Jesus in His final steps to save you and, in fact, the whole world. Make time to spend with Him. Some highlights of the week:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

"In the Dioceses of the United States, the practice of covering crosses and images throughout the church from this Sunday may be observed. Crosses remain covered until the end of the Celebration of the Lord's Passion on Good Friday, but images remain covered until the beginning of the Easter Vigil." – from the Roman Missal for the Fifth Sunday of Lent.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Go on…take a break…you deserve it! In fact, the Church insists on it today. Here at the halfway point of Lent, the Church gives us a little break from our Lenten penances on this Sunday of joy called Laetare Sunday. The fourth Sunday of Lent is a break in our otherwise penitential season. The priests and deacons wear rose, the color of the dawn, symbolizing anticipation; and music, having been restrained since Ash Wednesday, is given joyful free reign once again. This day takes its name from the opening words of the Mass, the official Introit: "Laetare, Jerusalem" – "Rejoice, Jerusalem… Be joyful, all who were in mourning!" (From Isaiah 66:10-11).

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Due to an unexpected glitch in the social media universe, we recently lost our previous St. Mary's Facebook page. However, we have set up a new and improved page. All we need is you to "like" us again. So click here and like our new page. It is a great way for the parish to share with you the most current news and events, including recent pictures from our own seminarian Will Frei receiving the Ministry of Acolyte in Rome, another official step to ordination to the priesthood. We also share upcoming events and special announcements about Mass times. While social media may have its pitfalls, it can also be used for tremendous good.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As I write this, the parish mission is in full swing, and we've had a fantastic turnout. It is truly a great way to "get us into" Lent. As with anything that involves so many moving parts, it could not have gone so well without the help of a great number of staff and volunteers. So, a big "thank you" is in order to each and every person who helped in any way.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

"The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and He remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan." – St. Mark 1:12-13

We have entered once again into the desert of Lent with Christ. This Lent can be the one that transforms you like no other, if you are willing to open up your heart and allow Christ inside. You have nothing to lose… and literally everything togain.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

First, many thanks to everyone for the compassionate outpouring of love and concern – and chicken soup! – over my recent illness, which kept me from celebrating Mass last Sunday. We are all especially grateful for Fr. Ernie Hepner and Fr. Renaurd West for so willingly jumping in to take Masses so that there was no interruption to our Mass schedule. As I write this column, I am feeling a thousand times better. Thank you!

This Wednesday, February 14, is Ash Wednesday. While it is not a Holy Day, it is nevertheless an extremely important day in the life of every Catholic, who seeks to be a more faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. Masses are at 7am in Old St. Mary's; 8:30AM, 12noon, & 5:30PM in the church; and 7PM (in Spanish) in Old St. Mary's.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

"The anniversary of a church's dedication is celebrated with the rank of a solemnity." - Roman Pontifical, Rite of Dedication of a Church, 27.

This weekend at all Masses, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Anniversary of the Dedication of St. Mary's church (transferred from Feb. 2). The annual celebration of a parish church's dedication outranks even most Sundays of the Church's liturgical year. The true beauty of the Church, of course, is with the capital letter, "C," i.e., the baptized members of the Mystical Body of Christ, of which our church building is an important symbol and has an important function. It is here in this building that we are formed to be the Church living and receive His saving Sacraments. Jesus is the Head and we, the baptized, are the Body (see 1 Cor. 12:12-26). Be who you are called to be – Jesus Christ!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Friday afternoon, February 2, at the 5:30pm daily Mass, the Church celebrates the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, a.k.a., Candlemas. The theme of Christ as Light pervades this celebration. Traditionally, we bless candles at the beginning of the Mass, which we then use in a short procession. We also bless some of the candles used in the celebration of Mass through the year. You are also welcome to bring candles from home that you will use in your private prayer to be blessed.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we make our way well into this new year of grace, 2018, here are a couple of reminders of special events coming our way:

Tomorrow, January 22, is a voluntary day of fasting and prayer for Respect for Human Life. All human beings are made in the image and likeness of God, regardless of age or even stage of development. God revealed this Himself by taking on human flesh in the Virgin Mary's womb. There never was a time that His miraculous conception could have been considered "not human." Saint John the Baptist even leapt at the presence of Jesus, newly conceived, in the wombof his own mother, St. Elizabeth.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

First, I am excited to announce that we have launched a new, even more user-friendly version of the St. Mary's website. We have several improvements available, including on-line registration, e-giving registration, podcast homilies have returned, and more. Why not make us your home page to keep up with the latest goings on?

We have a few very special upcoming events to be sure to put on your calendar:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

First, a sincere word of thanks to each person who helped make our Christmas celebrations outstanding and spiritually enriching. Thank you to the wonderful voices and leadership of all of St. Mary's choirs. Hours and hours of practicing go in to bring us such beautiful music. We are grateful for all the volunteers who set up for Masses, especially this year since our beloved sacristan, Ginny Whitaker, has been on medical leave. (Please continue to keep her in your prayers!) Many thanks to our lectors who proclaim the word of God, our extraordinary ministers who help the priests and deacons distribute Holy Communion, our ushers, and those who clean and prepare behind the scenes so well that you and I never know the amount of work it takes. What looks effortless is far from it! Thanks to those who serve the poor, helping us keep the works of mercy at our core. And, of course, a very special word of gratitude to all of our "elves," who decorated our churches and gave us the second largest indoor tree I've ever seen in my life. To all – thank you from the bottom of my heart. You help make St. Mary's great!