March 12th, 2023
Third Sunday of Lent

Families,

There have been many occasions throughout the course of this year where so many of you have communicated your prayers and support for me as your pastor. I am constantly humbled by your expressions of love and gratitude. Thank you! It is now my turn to once again offer my support to you and your families.

As your pastor, I am available to guide you in the life of faith. I am available to celebrate the Sacraments, rejoice with you in happy times, and comfort you during the most difficult of times. I am also available to help you with anything that is keeping you or your families away from growing in the spiritual life and developing a deeper relationship with Christ and his Church. One issue that is becoming more and more difficult for individuals, marriages, children, and families as a whole is the struggle with pornography. Regrettably, pornography can impact both children and adults spiritually, emotionally, physically and relationally.

As you work hard to protect your families, I want to equip you with the appropriate tools to form, protect and guide your families on this specific issue. Thus, today we are celebrating the second annual Safe Haven Sunday with the theme “Equipping the Family: Having Critical Conversations.” As you may recall, Safe Haven Sunday finds its inspiration in the U.S. Bishops document Create in Me a Clean Heart, wherein they state, “The use of pornography by anyone in the home deprives the home of its role as a safe haven and has negative effects throughout a family’s life and across generations.”

When a parent discovers his or her child or teenager has been looking at pornography, it can be alarming, hurtful, and even frightening. In the confusion of the moment, it is important for parents to understand that these are not uncharted waters. By following the link below, you will be provided a full, step-by-step, guide for Catholic parents on how to navigate this difficult situation.

Once again, this awareness weekend is meant to draw our attention as a parish community to the seriousness of the issues of pornography and to recommit ourselves to take steps to ensure our homes are safe havens for all. I encourage you to begin learning now by texting SECURE to 66866 to receive seven days of free emailed digital tips.

Through the intercession of the Holy Family and Saint Michael, I am,

Fr. Andrew