Dear Parishioners,

    I am so happy to announce that a St. Mary's parishioner has come forward and paid the remainder of our 2022 ACA goal to reach $23,225. We made it! This has been a goal that St. Mary’s has historically not achieved for several years. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our parishioners in all of our parishes who have participated in this year's ACA: 46 families participated at St. Mary’s, 11 at Holy Ghost and 8 at Sacred Heart.

    Please join us for Faith Night this Wednesday. We will be starting our series on the Mass. This first week we will be doing an overview and covering the Introductory Rites of the Mass. I will give a presentation and then there will be time for discussion. On Friday, we will have Stations of the Cross at 5:30 pm followed by soup supper. 

   This First Sunday of Lent is a good opportunity to reflect on the three primary spiritual practices associated with the Time of Lent: prayer, self-denial, and works of charity. Deepened prayer helps us to hear the Word of God more clearly and to become more responsive in following the Lord’s will in our lives. Prayer also increases our love of God by deepening our relationship with the Lord. Self-denial frees us from being enslaved by our appetites and desires or dominated by wasteful practices. Self-denial, especially fasting, also awakens us to the needs and sufferings of others and allows us to experience the frailty of the human condition so as to grow in compassion for those who live in constant need. In performing charitable works (almsgiving), we express our love of God in our love of neighbor and begin to make a practical difference in the lives of others as a witness of our discipleship. Charitable works (almsgiving) also challenge us to let go of the false security of our possessions and the illusion of self-sufficiency by our responsible care for others. Thus, these three practices are interconnected.    

   Prayer, self-denial, and good works all lead us into a practical and more profound love of God and neighbor. Lent is not so much about what we “give up” but rather what we “give to” God and others.

      How can we deepen your prayer life during these forty days of Lent so you can hear more clearly the Word of God being spoken to you? 

During Lent, Stations of the Cross will be available every Friday at 5:30 pm followed by a soup supper provided by several different parish ministries. Everyone is invited! This week (Feb. 24) the Parish Council will be organizing soup supper and next week (March 3) will be the Prayer Chain.

The Chewelah Council of the Knights of Columbus will host its monthly pancake breakfast next Sunday, Feb. 26 after 10 a.m. mass in Chewelah. Support for breakfasts go to Knights activities including the youth scholarship program.

All-Parish Faith Night during Lent features a 7-week program for adult formation (in St. Mary's parish hall) on the Meaning of the Mass. This week is Part 1: An Overview and Introductory Rites. As usual, confessions are available at 5 pm with mass at 5:30 pm and dinner at 6 pm. For this week's meal, everyone is encouraged to bring appetizers and finger foods. Religious education, sacramental preparation, and adult formation classes begin at 6:30 pm.

Stations of the Cross are every Friday at 5:30 pm followed by a soup and bread supper, which is provided by several different parish ministries. Everyone is invited! This week (March 3) the Prayer Chain will be organizing soup supper and next week (March 10) will be the Knights of Columbus.

From now on, the Library at St. Mary's, officially called St. Jerome Library, will remain unlocked to be open to parishioners during office hours and masses, or other parish events. Parishioners are welcome to come read a book or check one out using our simple system. Ed Grim manages our library and just added several new books. Since the library is also a conference room, there will be a meeting schedule posted on the door to say when the library is reserved. Parishioners are welcome to reserve it when needed as well. Contact Kellie at the office for any questions or to donate additional materials.

For an additional Lenten alms giving effort, St. Mary's parishioners are organizing a food drive to benefit the Chewelah Food Bank. Parishioners are asked to donate 40 non-perishable food items throughout the 40 days of Lent. Those can be collected each week or donated all at once. Or build a box like the ones that are given to families each month. The family box includes peanut butter, jelly, cereal, macaroni and cheese, boxed potatoes, tuna fish, tuna salad kit, can of chicken noodle soup, green beans, fruit, corn, tomato sauce and diced tomatoes, jar of applesauce and spaghetti sauce, box of crackers, oatmeal packets, package of pasta, and box of dessert mix. Any paper products are also needed. Bring donations to the designated table in the parish hall to be delivered each week of Lent.