Dear friends in Christ,
This, That & the Other ... It’s been awhile since we’ve seen the green vestments and colors in the church, but Ordinary Time returns now that Advent and Christmas have concluded. This weekend is the
2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time (the 1st Sunday was superseded last week by the Baptism of the Lord) and we’ll be in this liturgical season for about five weeks until Ash Wednesday on Feb. 26. ... Our Gospel this Sunday comes from St. John and builds upon the account we heard last week of the baptism of Jesus. John the Baptist recounts his vision of what he has seen and that makes him an authentic witness to Jesus as the Lamb of God and the Son of God, the one filled with the Spirit. May we, too, be such authentic witnesses to Christ, not only by what we say, but perhaps more importantly, how we live and give witness in our everyday lives.
... Congratulations are in order for three men from CtR, David Carrasco, Mike Jones, and Dan Ruvalcaba, who this Saturday will be installed as Acolytes for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. This is their final step on the way to their ordination as permanent deacons next January. As acolytes you will see them vested in an alb and serving at the altar, assisting our deacons (who themselves were also acolytes before their ordination). ... As David, Mike, and Dan take on a more public role in the Church they still have a year of theological, spiritual, and human formation ahead of them so I ask you to keep them in your prayers, along with their spouses (Ofelia, Mary, and Gabriela, respectively) who are alongside of them in this journey to the diaconate. We are grateful for their vocation and overjoyed that they will soon join us as members of our clergy at CtR!
... At the end of the month we’ll mark the annual celebration of Catholic Schools Week, but in advance of that let me remind you that tonight,
Thursday, Jan. 16, at 6:30 p.m. our CtR Catholic School is hosting a Kindergarten Preview. It’s a chance for families with current Pre-Kindergarteners in any program to come see all that our Kindergarten program at
CtR School has to offer. ... Administrators will be on hand for a short presentation to begin the evening in the Parish Hall and then you’re invited to tour the classrooms and ask questions of the teachers while seeing the great environment and curriculum we have in place for our youngest Crusaders. Spread the word to any family you know who may be looking for Kindergarten for next school year. You can
email the admissions office to let them know you are coming, but walk-ins are certainly welcome, too, so join us tonight.
... A reminder that our parish offices will be closed (and our school as well)
Monday, Jan. 20, in observation of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. May we always pray and work for peace and justice for all of God's people. See the link for information on the adjustment to the RE schedule for the holiday. ... Also, next
Wednesday, Jan. 22, is a Day of Prayer for Unborn Children as we mark the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal throughout the U.S. Since that tragic decision, 60 million children’s lives have been lost to abortion, and many suffer that lost – often in silence. We’ll mark remember that day and pray for all human life at both our 8:30 a.m. Mass with the school in the church and our Wednesday Mass in the chapel at 7 p.m. I encourage us to keep a fast throughout the day if possible as a way of uniting our sufferings on earth with the redeeming suffering of Christ on the cross. Let us always pray and work for a greater respect of all human life, in all of its stages and all of its forms.
... We’re less than a month away from Valentine’s Day and if you are looking for a fun evening with your beloved, look no further than the annual
Knight of Columbus Valentine’s Dinner and Dance on Saturday, Feb. 15 in the Parish Hall. It’s always a great evening, with good food, good drink, and a lively dance floor all included for only $50 per person/$100 per couple. You’re not going to get all of that anywhere else at a better price so close to home. Tickets are available the link, and will be on sale after all Masses this weekend, too. ... Please keep our CtR Youth (and Core Team members) in your prayers this weekend as more than 150 teens of them will be at Camp Cho-Yeh near Cleveland in east Texas for their
Confirmation retreat. The retreat is an important part of their journey toward the Sacrament of Confirmation the students will receive later in May. May it be a time of many spiritual blessings. ... Lastly, and most importantly,
God loves you! See ya’ at Mass!