Dear Flock,

The hour draws near! This is our final week to prepare for Holy Week. Through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving we journey onward to the last days of Lent, confident that we have become more Christ-like. May we be blessed to one day say like Saint Paul, “It is not I who live, but Christ who lives within me.”

• On Wednesday we had the first of our Lenten Penance services. We were blessed to have 12 priests available for confession during the 2-hour window – they were kept busy!  The next, final, Lenten Penance Service here at St. Catherine’s will be this coming Wednesday, March 29 from 6:30 – 8:30 PM. I encourage you to take advantage of this beautiful sacrament and prepare your heart for the glory of the resurrection at Easter!

• We have such a beautiful space here, I am trying to make our parish home more inviting and welcoming.  One thing that has struck me since I arrived is the façade of this beautiful church and grounds.  When you face the church from Siena Drive you can’t help but notice our impressive, and elegant building.  However, we are missing something. We have designed a new landscaped entrance and sign.  God-willing the physical work on this project will begin in the next few weeks.  You can see the drawing of the vision below.  

• This weekend Little Bethlehem Christian Group will be in the courtyard after all the Masses. You may remember seeing them in years past. Little Bethlehem Christian Group is a group that represents over 300 families who live in the Holy Land area and who make their living as olive wood carvers.  They will have a collection of hand-carved olive wood items for sale.  Please take a moment after Mass to browse their goods - they are good gifts for friends and family, especially with graduations, First Communion, and Confirmation right around the corner!