Dear St. Rose family,
The second Sunday of Lent is upon us! What have been your challenges so far? Your graces?
Lent is a perfect time to reflect on our spiritual state and our "interior movement." Are we moving toward more doubt, fear and anger? Or are we moving toward greater faith, hope and love? This is where the Ignatian principles of consolation and desolation can help us.
We are in a state of consolation when we move toward God’s active presence in the world. We know we are moving in this way when we sense the growth of love or faith or mercy or hope. If I am becoming more kind with people, and I experience this movement as life-giving and Christlike, I am in a state of consolation.
We dwell in a state of desolation when we move away from God’s active presence in the world. We know we are moving in this way when we sense the growth of resentment, ingratitude, selfishness, doubt, fear and so on. If my outlook becomes increasingly gloomy and self-obsessed, I am in a state of desolation. I am resisting God or being led away from God by other influences.1
I hope you'll find my video below useful in identifying the spiritual consolation and desolation in your life. Stay close to the Lord this Lent and always. His consolation is imminent.
God bless you all,
Fr. Matt
1 From Consolation and Desolation by Vinita Hampton Wright www.ignatianspirituality.com/consolation-and-desolation-2/
CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING PRIMER with FR. MATT
As we continue to the fourth theme of Catholic Social Teaching, we come to the Option for the Poor and Vulnerable. As you can see, all seven principles of Catholic Social Teaching are intimately bound up with the life and dignity of every human person. If this is true—if we really believe this—it demands that we pay particular attention to those who are poor and vulnerable. We cannot stand idly by.
St. Martin de Tours, St. Frances of Rome, St. Elizabeth of Hungary and all those who worked in hospitals are excellent examples caring for the poor and vulnerable. Get to know these Saints. Let them inspire you.
For me, however, the witness that I feel closest to is St. Teresa of Calcutta. Her life is a constant examination of conscience and inspiration for me of real love for the poor and vulnerable. A couple of quotes will have to suffice.
“The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.”
“If someone feels that God wants him to transform social structures, that’s an issue between him and his God. We all have the duty to serve God as we feel called. I feel called to help individuals, to love each human being. I never think in terms of crowds in general but in terms but in terms of each individual person. Were I to think about crowds, I would never begin anything. It is the person that matters. I believe in person-to-person encounters.”
—St. Teresa of Calcutta
SAVE THE DATE: ACA 2021
This weekend, February 27–28, is Commitment Weekend for the 2021 Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal. If you received a personalized commitment card in the mail please bring it to Mass as we join together to support our Catholic Church. Our parish goal is $25,388.37.
RENT/MORTGAGE RELIEF AVAILABLE
Thanks to very generous donations within our community, we have a COVID-19 Relief Fund to help parishioners severely impacted by the pandemic and resulting economic conditions. Please complete this form to apply for assistance. Contact the parish office (503.281.5318) with any questions.
LENTEN OPPORTUNITIES at ST. ROSE
- The Pastoral Council has started reading Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis’s social encyclical in order to start opening dialogue about the social ills that we face. Consider reading along.
- The Pastoral Council has a daily activity/penance you might choose to experience what normal days are like for many people in our world. Click here and see if you can get a bingo—or even a blackout—this Lent!
- SVdP has a challenge to build your weekly food budget off of what many of their clients live off of. Can you live off $4.17 a day, like many of their clients must?
- There is an online group for Fiat 90 or Magnify 90, geared for women.
- Married couples might be interested in a marriage enrichment opportunity.
- Outdoor Stations of the Cross in the parking lot—as you approach, scan the QR code at each station for the prayer and reflection
ADDITIONAL LENTEN CONFESSION TIMES at ST. ROSE
- Every Wednesday from 5-6:00pm, with Adoration in the Church from 5-6:00pm followed by Benediction.
- March 23, 24, & 25 at noon (Spring Break).
STATIONS OF THE CROSS at THE MADELEINE
The Madeleine parish is offering the following specially-themed Stations of the Cross during Lent:
February 25 — Care for Creation
March 11 — Racial Justice
March 25 — Human Trafficking
All take place in the Main Church at the Madeleine. Stations will be available for in-person attendance, livestreamed and recorded for later viewing. Start time is 6:30pm. Viewing of the livestream and recordings can be found on their parish YouTube channel, The Madeleine Parish.
February 25 — Care for Creation
March 11 — Racial Justice
March 25 — Human Trafficking
All take place in the Main Church at the Madeleine. Stations will be available for in-person attendance, livestreamed and recorded for later viewing. Start time is 6:30pm. Viewing of the livestream and recordings can be found on their parish YouTube channel, The Madeleine Parish.
ST. ROSE SUNDAY ENCOUNTER
Livestream weekend Mass continues at 5:30pm on Saturdays as well as 8:30am and 10:30am on Sundays. Click here to sign-up for Mass.
If you can't join us in person, watch Mass livestreams with us in real time either on Facebook (@strosepdxchurch) or on YouTube (St. Rose of Lima Parish, Portland, OR).
Sign up for your free FORMED subscription:
- Go to formed.org and click "Sign Up"
- Select "Sign Up as a Parishioner"
- Search for our parish by name or enter our access code: NW34T3
- Enter your email and create a password (you’ll need this to login later)
- Start accessing all the inspiring content you want on FORMED!
“And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and from the cloud there came a voice: This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.”
— Mark 9:7