Sunday, March 19, 2023
Fourth Sunday of Lent
CHEERS
Cheers!
This weekend is the mid-point of Lent: Laetare Sunday. Laetare means rejoice. We rejoice because three weeks of Lent are past and there are three weeks until Easter Sunday. Consider wearing pink to mass this weekend (you'll see me in pink vestments). Check out my video for more on what's happening this week. (Closed captioning is available - just look at the bottom right of the screen and click on the box marked "cc").
~Fr. Bill
Office & Parish Life Center Hours:
Monday - Friday
8am - 12pm & 1-4pm
702-459-7778
Sunday Mass Schedule
Saturday 4:00pm live-stream
Sunday 7:30am
9:30am (ASL interpreted)
12:30pm
5:00pm
Daily Mass Schedule
Monday - Saturday 7:30am
GOSPEL REFLECTION QUESTIONS
FIRST READING: 1 Sam 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Psalm 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
"The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want."
SECOND READING: Ephesians 5:8-14
GOSPEL: John 8:12
1) Where might there be a pocket of blindness in your own life? How could you invite God in to heal it?
2) What are your real values in life -- where do you really spend your time, attention, energy, and money? Do any of these conflict with who you profess to be?
3) Does anything about God's work in these readings make you uncomfortable? How might that be a call to action?
PRAYER REQUESTS
Do you need a prayer? Would you like to pray for someone? You can reply directly to this email (which will create a private comment) or click the 'Reply' button to leave a public comment.
We are united to one another through our prayer. We are praying for you. You are not alone.
LENT AT HOLY SPIRIT
Holy Spirit’s Lenten Focus for 2023 is “Never Alone”. Our focus is on reaching out to others - how do we experience Lent communally? Too often, Lent is viewed as a solo journey, for example “I’m giving this up," or "I’m doing this." Are we willing to share in the joys, but also the burdens, and worries, of our brothers and sisters? Are we willing to enter into the messiness of each other’s lives? With 2023 also being Holy Spirit’s 15th Anniversary we are reminded of all that has been and look to the future with great hope and promise. We are called to share this Lent together, reminded that we cannot and should not carry our crosses alone. Rather, we must reach out to help others carry their crosses and also allow others to lift us up when our own burdens seem insurmountable. We are never alone!
Our Parish Mission, begins this Monday and Tuesday March 20-21 at 7pm in the church. This year, we will be visited by Fr. Greg Boyle a Roman Catholic priest of the Jesuit order and founder of Homeboy Industries. Homeboy Industries is the largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world:
For over 30 years, Homeboy Industries has stood as a beacon of hope in Los Angeles to provide training and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated people, allowing them to redirect their lives and become contributing members of our community. Join us this year as we hear from Fr. Greg and his message of forgiveness, hope and compassion.
Our Lenten Reconciliation Night will be held this Thursday. It will begin with a prayer service followed by the opportunity for individual confessions. We will have 10 priests present for this celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, that is, penance or confession.
This Saturday, March 25th we host a Lenten Mental Health Retreat in the Parish Life Center. We will learn various tools to use as we walk through the valley together, how we can keep an open heart but not take on the burden to own or fix other's crosses. We will also address how silence and shame does not allow us to experience the full gift of the cross. Led by a marriage and family therapist, you will be given the chance to pause and reflect. Click below to register:
Stations of the Cross is a Catholic devotion with 14 steps recounting the day Jesus was crucified. Each station represents a moment from Jesus’ journey to Calvary on Good Friday. At Holy Spirit, you're invited to join us in the church for Stations of the Cross at 6pm every Friday during Lent.
Our final discussion and study of "Father Stu: Reborn" will be held in two weeks on Monday, March 27th at 6:30pm. This film is based on the true story of Father Stuart Long, a lost soul who finds his purpose in the most unexpected way. The study guide we are using was written by Bishop George Leo Thomas, who presided over the ordination of Fr. Stuart Long.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
The Knights of Columbus thanks everyone for coming to its Fish Fry which was held on St. Patrick's Day. The group served it delicious fish, but also CORNED BEEF, cabbage and potatoes! Bishop George Leo Thomas and many bishops around the country gave dispensation from abstinence from meat since so many people celebrate this feast day. Weather-permitting, the Knights will be back serving another Fish Fry next Friday, March 24 from 4-7pm. You can order a take out plate or dine inside the Parish Life Center. Fish Plates are $10.50 each.
CHILDREN'S MINISTRY
Start training and save the date for our first ever Bible Olympics Soar FX. Register your family team together, and join us April 15 reimagining some favorite Bible stories and competing for the Gold medal!
YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY
SECOND COLLECTION:
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
As we practice prayer, fasting and almsgiving during Lent we highlight the work being done by Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada and the lives impacted.
This week we highlight the Community Meal. Catholic Charities has been serving a free meal to vulnerable men,
women and children, many of whom are experiencing
homelessness, every day since 1965. An average of 375 meals are served daily. While at the meal, guests also have access to case management to connect them to other vital services and help move them toward self-sufficiency. Please consider supporting with a contribution to this special collection. If you're interested in volunteering to assist with this meal, please reach out to Catholic Charities or visit their website for more details. Thank you for your support.
women and children, many of whom are experiencing
homelessness, every day since 1965. An average of 375 meals are served daily. While at the meal, guests also have access to case management to connect them to other vital services and help move them toward self-sufficiency. Please consider supporting with a contribution to this special collection. If you're interested in volunteering to assist with this meal, please reach out to Catholic Charities or visit their website for more details. Thank you for your support.
OUTREACH MINISTRY
If you were at the 12:30pm and 5pm Masses last weekend, you know that Outreach Ministry ran out of Easter bags to pass out. If you missed getting one, there will be volunteers in the gathering space to give you one. Please remember to bring your bags back no later than Sunday March 26th. Please remember to bring back your donation to the Outreach Ministry's annual Easter Project "Some Bunny Loves You" before Sunday March 26th. Click below for full details:
YOUR OPINION MATTERS
What is your favorite mode of transportation: plane, train, automobile, bike or boat.
Airplane
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Train
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Car
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Bike
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Boat
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Results from last week's question "What do you love most about this Lenten season?
Top answer:
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
COMMUNICATIONS CORNER
Director of Communications
Items submitted each week by Wednesday before noon are included in the e-Bulletin the same week. Your event will remain in the e-Bulletin leading up to the event. Please also submit your event to Christine Bravo to ensure it is in our parish calendar.
