Please pray for
Thanks to all of you we have surpassed the $200,000 goal on my matching challenge. You will note that the thermometer in the Narthex next to Flat Father is red all the way up.
Thank you to all who have turned in your Count on Me pledge forms. So far we have received 120 forms. Thank you as well to all who pledged to support the 4X4 challenge. Of the 120 forms returned nearly 100 committed to that challenge. Of the remainder many indicated that they have supported the capital campaign in its earlier phases. We are well on our way to building the new buildings with little or no debt. With your support we will get there.
If you were not at Masses this past weekend when I presented this year’s Count on Me and the 4X4 Challenge, you should have received, by now, our mailing explaining both for this year. Please return your pledge form either by mailing them in or by placing them in the collection at weekend Masses.
A reminder of why we need everyone to indicate what they plan to donate to the church offertory each year: The finance council uses them to project income so that we can prepare the budget for the next fiscal year which starts on July 1. We do not track your fulfillment. You will get a thank you letter from me and we just leave it to you to fulfill your commitment. If things happen, as they sometimes do in life and you cannot fulfill it, that is okay. God takes care of His parishes if we are faithful and trusting in His providence. We do need to remember that God uses us to do what we can so that His providence can be fulfilled.
Lenten Fasting and Abstinence
Every year I get questions on these spiritual disciplines. The guidelines are:
6:30 AM - Liturgy of the Word & Ashes
7:30 AM - Liturgy of the Word & Ashes
8:30 AM - Mass & Ashes
10 AM - Mass & Ashes at Queen of Angels Chapel
12:00 PM - Liturgy of the Word & Ashes
4:00 PM - Liturgy of the Word & Ashes
5:30 PM - Mass & Ashes
7:30 PM - Mass & Ashes in Spanish
End of Life Seminar
I am offering an End of Life Seminar on Thursday, March 14 at 6:00 PM in the Great Hall. I hope this time will answer some questions and correct misconceptions regarding issues and challenges that arise for families when a member is actively dying or passes. I will touch on the sacraments, logistics, family dynamics and more. There will also be good information there for you to take home to study. Please register on our parish website (or call the parish office) so we know how many print-outs we need to prepare.
www.EmmausParish.org/endoflifeclass
Book Recommendation
Rennie Airth, River of Darkness
Usually I do not recommend books to you until I have finished reading them. However, this is a very good murder mystery that I am enjoying immensely. It has a well-developed plot with very interesting and well-developed characters set in post WW I England. If you like classy, classic murder mysteries, you will enjoy this one.
If Matthew Kelly is correct, we have some very happy people in our parish area. Because we are blessed with some wonderful examples of charity and giving. The Men of Emmaus, a group that meets each week to learn more about their faith, purchased $2000 worth of gift cards which were given out before Christmas to the needy in our parish area by St. Vincent de Paul volunteers. A twelve year old parishioner, Lola Waldrip, used her God given talents to raise over $900 selling Christmas crafts. She donated the entire amount to St. Vincent de Paul for the purpose of helping the poor. This is only a part of the many organizations and people that serve others with their charitable works and gifts.
The poor may be hidden amongst us, but they are there – and they continue to need our help. A reminder that this weekend is the weekend that we take up the Benevolence (for the poor) collection. The Benevolence Fund provides financial support to several of organizations in the area include St. Vincent de Paul. Over $30,000 is donated to the benevolence fund each year by Emmaus parishioners, so your charity reaches far into our community and helps those in need. Thank you.
Your in Christ,
Fr. Samuel
- Brent Palin, who passed last night, services are pending.
- Sandra Gremp’s daughter, who died this past week, and their family.
Thanks to all of you we have surpassed the $200,000 goal on my matching challenge. You will note that the thermometer in the Narthex next to Flat Father is red all the way up.
Thank you to all who have turned in your Count on Me pledge forms. So far we have received 120 forms. Thank you as well to all who pledged to support the 4X4 challenge. Of the 120 forms returned nearly 100 committed to that challenge. Of the remainder many indicated that they have supported the capital campaign in its earlier phases. We are well on our way to building the new buildings with little or no debt. With your support we will get there.
If you were not at Masses this past weekend when I presented this year’s Count on Me and the 4X4 Challenge, you should have received, by now, our mailing explaining both for this year. Please return your pledge form either by mailing them in or by placing them in the collection at weekend Masses.
A reminder of why we need everyone to indicate what they plan to donate to the church offertory each year: The finance council uses them to project income so that we can prepare the budget for the next fiscal year which starts on July 1. We do not track your fulfillment. You will get a thank you letter from me and we just leave it to you to fulfill your commitment. If things happen, as they sometimes do in life and you cannot fulfill it, that is okay. God takes care of His parishes if we are faithful and trusting in His providence. We do need to remember that God uses us to do what we can so that His providence can be fulfilled.
Lenten Fasting and Abstinence
Every year I get questions on these spiritual disciplines. The guidelines are:
- Fasting on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday. This applies to those who are ages 14-60 years. Fasting means eating approximately the equivalent of one meal in the course of the day. Obviously, if you have health issues, you may be exempt as well. For example many diabetics should not fast.
- Abstinence on Ash Wednesday and on Fridays in Lent. The faithful should not eat meat on those days. Fish and seafood is permitted. Meat includes fowl.
6:30 AM - Liturgy of the Word & Ashes
7:30 AM - Liturgy of the Word & Ashes
8:30 AM - Mass & Ashes
10 AM - Mass & Ashes at Queen of Angels Chapel
12:00 PM - Liturgy of the Word & Ashes
4:00 PM - Liturgy of the Word & Ashes
5:30 PM - Mass & Ashes
7:30 PM - Mass & Ashes in Spanish
End of Life Seminar
I am offering an End of Life Seminar on Thursday, March 14 at 6:00 PM in the Great Hall. I hope this time will answer some questions and correct misconceptions regarding issues and challenges that arise for families when a member is actively dying or passes. I will touch on the sacraments, logistics, family dynamics and more. There will also be good information there for you to take home to study. Please register on our parish website (or call the parish office) so we know how many print-outs we need to prepare.
www.EmmausParish.org/endoflifeclass
Book Recommendation
Rennie Airth, River of Darkness
Usually I do not recommend books to you until I have finished reading them. However, this is a very good murder mystery that I am enjoying immensely. It has a well-developed plot with very interesting and well-developed characters set in post WW I England. If you like classy, classic murder mysteries, you will enjoy this one.
A Message from our St. Vincent de Paul Society: The Gift of Generosity
In some ways, life is a happiness project. This project is full of paradoxes. For example, it may seem like it is about you, but it is actually more about what you can do for other people. It turns out that bringing happiness to other people increases your chances of being happy, while seeking happiness for yourself decreases those chances. It is impossible to be grateful and unhappy at the same time.
From Chapter 2 of Matthew Kelly's book,
The Biggest Lie in the History of Christianity
If Matthew Kelly is correct, we have some very happy people in our parish area. Because we are blessed with some wonderful examples of charity and giving. The Men of Emmaus, a group that meets each week to learn more about their faith, purchased $2000 worth of gift cards which were given out before Christmas to the needy in our parish area by St. Vincent de Paul volunteers. A twelve year old parishioner, Lola Waldrip, used her God given talents to raise over $900 selling Christmas crafts. She donated the entire amount to St. Vincent de Paul for the purpose of helping the poor. This is only a part of the many organizations and people that serve others with their charitable works and gifts.
The poor may be hidden amongst us, but they are there – and they continue to need our help. A reminder that this weekend is the weekend that we take up the Benevolence (for the poor) collection. The Benevolence Fund provides financial support to several of organizations in the area include St. Vincent de Paul. Over $30,000 is donated to the benevolence fund each year by Emmaus parishioners, so your charity reaches far into our community and helps those in need. Thank you.
Your in Christ,
Fr. Samuel