My dear family,
This Wednesday is ASH WEDNESDAY, the start of the sacred fast of Lent. It is a day of strict fasting and abstinence from eating meat. This Friday, and all the Fridays of Lent, are days of abstinence from eating meat. The Lenten regulations are printed on the front of the bulletin. Please review them.
Now we should be thinking of what special acts of penance we wish to personally do. Of course the best way to keep Lent is to attend daily Mass. Another excellent devotion is to attend the Stations of the Cross, which start this Friday at 3 and 7 pm. To these we should add our own acts of prayer, fasting, and works of mercy.
**********
Next weekend, our Lenten missionary, Fr. John Hilton, will be preaching all the Masses to prepare us for our Lenten Mission, MERCY FROM THE CROSS, The Seven Last Words of Our Lord, which will take place Monday through Thursday, Feb. 27 - March 1, at 9 am and 7 pm each day. We have been blessed with Fr. Hilton's missions before, and he has been one of our most popular missionaries. I'm sure this will be a time of great grace in our parish. Let's make every effort to attend.
**********
I am sure that many of you are aware of the mandate from the federal Department of Health and Human Services concerning the Church being required to provide contraceptive and abortion inducing ("morning-after pill") services at our Catholic institutions via the health insurance plans. And you are perhaps aware of the President's "accommodation" that he has proposed.
With this bulletin I am including two letters - one from Archbishop Sheehan concerning the original proposal, and the second from Cardinal Mahony concerning the "accommodation." I would highly suggest that you read them. (Note from editor: Also see Archbishop Sheehan's response to the "accommodation" that arrived after the bulletin went to print)
Friends, it is very important that we educated ourselves on these matters, keep abreast of the, and act upon them. This is not primarily an issue about contraception but about religious liberty - the freedom of the Church, and of all religious institutions. I am very concerned - this is serious. Many bishops and serious Catholic and non-Catholic thinkers share this view. If they can order us to provide contraception today, what is to stop them from ordering abortions tomorrow? Learn about this issue, my friends.
**********
The best Catholic web site to keep up with this issue - and all church news and matters of Catholic interest?
Any Catholic would do well to check out this web site each day. It's excellent!
**********
Yes, I went to Fr. Steenson's installation in Houston. With his new position, he is now Msgr. Steenson. It was a very beautiful and historic Mass. On the way back, I had to take off all metal things to go through those confounded security machines. When I got to the airplane gate I discovered that the crucifix that I have worn around my neck for years was missing. I went back to the security checkpoint in a panic. They searched and searched but could not find it. Then I prayed to St. Anthony and told him that if he found it, I would publicly give him the praise. That very moment, it showed up, undamaged, between two rollers in the machine. Well, with this article, I'm paying my debt to St. Anthony - never doubt the power of the Wonder-Worker of Padua!
A blessed start of Lent!
Msgr. Doug Raun