MARY IMMACULATE PARISH

ST. MARY’’S                   IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 11095 St. Mary’s St.                           5865 Ellicott St. Rd.   PO Box 98 Pavilion NY  14525                            E. Bethany NY 14054                    Parish Council Meetings: “All interested persons are welcome to attend.” Look for times and locations in the bulletin. Religious Education – held at Immaculate Conception Site. Dates as announced. Time: 10:40 AM – 12:10 PM in the hall. Lifelong Faith Formation – this year will be held in September, October, November, April and May. DVD Series, Catholicism. See the schedule inside.

To Contact Father Richard: Phone (585) 584-3280 Emergency Cell (585) 752-7208 E-mail: frcilano@yahoo.com Parish Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 9 AM – 1 PM Secretary - Cheryl Anziano Bookkeeper – Debbie Schmidt Phone (585) 584-7031 Fax (585) 250-4213 E-mail: MIChurch@rochester.rr.com Website: www.MaryImmaculateNY.org

Mass Schedule Saturday Mass:  4:00 PM      Months of October ‐ March at St. Mary’s    Months of April ‐ September at Immaculate Conception Sunday Mass:    8:00 AM at St. Mary’s                                9:30  AM at Immaculate Conception  Daily Mass:  8:30 AM           Months of January, March, May, July, September and November at Immaculate Conception.   Months of February, April, June, August, October and December at St. Mary’s. Holy Day Mass Schedule: as announced in the bulletin Confessions: 3:15 – 3:45 PM Saturdays at St. Mary’s or by appointment.

Rev. Richard Cilano, Pastor Deacon Heinz Friedman

3rd  Sunday of LentMarch 2 & 3,  2013 

MASS SCHEDULE WEEKEND: Saturday, 4pm – March 2in Pavilion Intention: Peter Sepor by Eleanor Sepor Sunday, 8 am – March 3 in Pavilion Intention: Parishioners of Mary Immaculate by Father Richard Sunday, 9:30 am in East Bethany Intention: Mary & Joseph Barniak & Walter Zalenski by Susan & Joseph Barniak Saturday, 4pm – March 9in Pavilion Intention: Peter Sepor by Diane & Ralph Torcello Sunday, 8 am – March 10 in Pavilion Intention: Shirley Elliott by Suzanne & Michael Herold & Karen & Gordy Almeter Sunday, 9:30 am in East Bethany Intention: Daniel Laurie by Betty & Ralph Worthington DAILY MASS: Mass Time: 8:30 am Location: East Bethany in March Tuesday, March 5 Lenten Weekday Intention: All Souls by Parishioners Wednesday March 6 Lenten Weekday Intention: Sick Parishioners & Loved Ones by Father Richard Thursday, March 7 Saints Perpetua & Felicity, Martyrs Intention: Parishioners of Mary Immaculate by Father Richard Friday, March 8 St. John of God, Religious Intention: All Souls by: Parishioners

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SICK: Jason Matice, Gordon Heale, Virginia Gayton, Pat Tiede, Neil Moag, Michael Sikorski, Kailee Griffith Bridges, Baby Lilly, Norm Bartz, Betty Strathern, May Grice, Bailey Moag, Greg Cugan, Roger Norton, Mickey Norton, Julia Barniak, Bill Powers, Terry Riggs, Heather McGlynn, Marilyn Colantonio, Lynn Sellick, Paul Raymond, Sundae Duyssen, Sarah Krolick, Rick Thompson, Laura Best, Barbara Greenbaum, Mary Ann Hanley, Ray Marsh, David Brown, Frances Ernst, Don Foley, Merita Logsdon, Elaine Dearcop, Ted Platek, Ron & Betty Carli, Jeanette Souva, Patty Abrams, Carmelina McCauley, Elaine Tibbs, Krystal Wilkinsen, Maryann O’Shea, Judy Strathearn, Karen Plossl, Marlene Pestlen, Don Pestlen, Elizabeth Signore, Dan Kelly, Bob Fairfield, Ann D’Angelo, Remy Lacey, John Dubuysen, Helen Masten, Kenneth Dobmier, Amy Cooper, Tom Logsdon Jr., and Jeff Nichols. PLEASE REMEMBER OUR NURSING HOME PARISHIONERS: Mary Pietrzykowski, Audrey McNulty, Martha Morgan, Betty Carney, and Allan Carlson. PRAY FOR THOSE SERVING IN THE MILITARY Mgr. Jason Palermo, W2 Christian Koch, David Hollwedel, Kirk Hollwedel, Dan Murphy, Tim Stalica, Jonnie Lyn Gray, Jady Gray, Casey Venetz, Jakob Kosiorek, Paul Agan Jr., Tim Logsdon, Sgt. Nicholas Boyer, Brett Sheffer, Mathieu Philie, SFC Jay Knower, Michael Rigoni, and Mark Wilkinsen.

MARY IMMACULATE PARISH COLLECTION REPORT

COLLECTION: 2/23 & 2/24 $ 2,339.50 Fuel Collection (cumulative) $ 1,558.00 My thanks to all who so generously contributed to the Fuel Collection. Father Richard Reminder: Checks need to be payable to

“Mary Immaculate”

LECTOR SCHEDULE: Saturday, March 2 4 pm Elaine Lemley Sunday, March 3 8 am Carol Pursel 9:30 am Mike Jackson Saturday, March 9 4 pm Mary Shaughnessy Sunday, March 10 8 am Dawn Bertrand 9:30 am Marita Midwick Communion Ministers and Altar Servers are asked to volunteer their services at the Mass they attend.

“The sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for her young: by your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.  Blessed are they who dwell in your house, for ever singing your praise.” Cf. Psalm 84 (83): 4-5

Holy Hour for Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 27 at 7 pm at St. Mary’s.

CO

COFFEE HOUR will be held this Sunday after the 8 am Mass in Conlin Hall. As a special treat …. we have Mystic Monk Coffee for you to sample. You don’t want to miss this opportunity to try a sample of our newest fundraiser!! All are welcome!! BLACK & INDIAN MISSIONS It is time for the journey of a lifetime! In his apostolic letter Porta Fidei, convoking this Year of Faith, Pope Benedict XVI asserts that the “door of faith” is always open to us as Christ’s faithful people. “To enter through that door is to set out on a journey that lasts a lifetime. It begins with baptism...” The Black & Indian Mission Collection has, for the last 128 years, helped open that door of faith for Native Americans and African Americans. We ask for your continued support to invite all peoples to this journey of a lifetime. Together, join our journey to support our mission to the missions! This collection will be taken up at all Masses this weekend. Please be as generous as possible. HOLY WEEK PLANNING In order for our Holy Week Liturgies to be celebrated properly, we need to plan ahead to fill the needed ministry positions. We have received volunteers for several of the available ministry positions. Listed below are the remaining positions needed to be filled. If you are planning on attending any of these Liturgies and are able to perform the required ministries, please leave a message on the office phone so we can complete a final ministry schedule. Palm Sunday - March 23 & 24 Pavilion: 4 pm Saturday; 8 am Sunday East Bethany: 9:45 Sunday

Needed for EACH service: 2 Altar Servers, 2 Lectors (Communion Ministers, as usual) There is no Saturday Mass in East Bethany for Palm Sunday. Holy Thursday, The Lord’s Supper – March 28 East Bethany: 7:00 pm Needed: 3 Altar Servers, 8 volunteers for foot washing Good Friday – March 29 East Bethany: Noon – Stations of the Cross No Ministers Needed Pavilion: 3 pm – Solemn Good Friday Liturgy

Needed: 2 Altar Servers Easter Vigil – March 30 Pavilion: 8:30 pm

Needed: 1 Fire Attendant, 2 Altar Servers, 3 Lectors, 1 Communion Minister Note to Altar Servers: Practice for each Liturgy will be held one hour before the service begins.

WELCOMED HOME This week, Joanne Topolski, sister of Carol and Rosalie Topolski, was called home to Our Lord. Her funeral Mass was celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church this past Friday evening. May she enjoy the eternal banquet of Heaven. PRAY FOR ELECTION OF THE NEW POPE “Catholics are called to focus on what is essential: to pray for Pope Benedict, to pray that the Holy Spirit enlighten the College of Cardinals, to pray for the future Pope, trusting that the fate of the barque of St. Peter is in the hands of God.” Vatican’s Secretariat of State – 2/23/13 POPE BENEDICT XVI Since Pope Benedict’s resignation as Pontiff took effect this past Thursday, his title now becomes “Pope Emeritus” or “Roman Pontiff Emeritus.” ALTAR SERVER OF THE YEAR AWARD – Congratulations to Charlie Urbanczyk who has received this award. The award was presented by Bishop Malone at a special Mass celebrated Saturday morning at St. Joseph’s Cathedral. The parish is blessed to have Charlie’s ministry at the celebration of the Eucharist. PARISHIONER ENVELOPES We realize that some of you may not have received your envelopes for the next period. We have been assured that they are on their way. In the event you do not have envelopes to use, placing your name and envelope number (if you know it) on a blank envelope will suffice. We apologize for any inconvenience. EUCHARISTIC TRAINING CLASS for those wishing to service the church as Eucharistic Ministers will be held on Saturday, April 27 from 10 – 2 at St. Isidore’s Parish (St. Joseph’s Site, 8 Park St. in Perry). Lunch will be provided. Please let Father Richard know if you are interested.

PRAYER FOR NEW GROWTH Holy and loving God, just as the gardener cares for what he has planted, so you nourish our growth with your tender care. When our sins and offenses keep us from flourishing and bearing good fruit, you offer us your gift of forgiveness and the chance to begin again. May our Lenten fast prune us of those habits of word and deed that prevent your grace from flowing in our lives. May our Lenten prayer fertilize the roots of new growth in holiness. May our Lenten prayer fertilize the roots of new growth in holiness. May our Lenten almsgiving bring forth blossoms of generosity and good will toward all your creation. Amen.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES ANNOUNCEMENTS You or an organization you belong to may already have been asked by Catholic Charities to become part of the 2013 Appeal. Please respond with your donation or pledge to the 2013 Appeal as soon as possible. Join the thousands of others throughout the diocese who stand together in support of the mission of Catholic Charities. Find inspiration in the example of Blessed Frederic Ozanam and share your blessings with those we serve. Without your generosity, we cannot reach our goal or fulfill our mission.Protect. Strengthen. Empower. Please give to the 2013 Catholic Charities Appeal. For those who have not turned in their donation, next weekend we will have our volunteers available after each Mass. Please stop by and save our volunteers the trouble of contacting you. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * YOU DID IT FOR ME In the blink of an eye, Nancy* witnessed a Midwest tornado's destruction of her home and all of her personal possessions. The local Catholic Charities agency immediately stepped in with a helping hand and compassionate heart to put her life back together. They provided assistance with rent and temporary housing, insurance information and advice, and grief counseling--to ease the pain and burden. Nancy expressed tremendous appreciation for all that Catholic Charities did saying, "We didn't have to come to them; they came to us. I don't know what I would have done without them." In 2011, Catholic Charities agencies provided disaster services to more than 40,000 people. FASTING & FEASTING by William Arthur Ward Lent should be more than a time of fasting. It should also be a joyous season of feasting. Lent is a time to fast from certain things and to feast on others. It is a season in which we should: Fast from worry; feast on divine order. Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation. Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives. Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer. THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT The Lord is kind and merciful and calls us to proclaim His Name. Consider a call to the priesthood or consecrated life. If God is calling you to a Church vocation, call Fr. Walter Szczesny at 716-847-5535. 

STATIONS OF THE CROSS will held each Friday at 7 pm throughout Lent. Stations will be held on March 8, 15 and 22 at Immaculate Conception Church in East Bethany. PENANCE SERVICE CORRECTION This service will be held on Monday, March 11 at Ascension Parish, Sacred Heart Church at 7 pm. This is a change from March 18, previously announced. Please mark your calendars! LENT – IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT “GIVING UP” Many people tend to consider Lent a time to give up chocolate, candy, or other things they normally enjoy. However, Lent is about honoring our faith. There are various ways we can observe Lent. Here are a few suggestions:

attend weekday Mass recite the Lenten Pro-Life prayer attend Holy Hour on March 27 attend the Stations of the Cross on

Friday evenings read and pray over the Sacred

Scriptures Make this Lent a time to reconnect with your faith, reach out to others, and prepare yourself for the celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection on Easter Sunday. BISHOP MALONE has begun working with Daybreak TV Productions on weekly inspirational videos that can be seen on Daybreak’s social media outlets, on cable programming, and also the diocesan website and social media outlets. In an effort to reach Catholics, Bishop Malone has taken on the idea of providing a 1-2 minute weekly message dubbed “Consider this . . .” These short videos are ruminations on faith matters and topics of the local, national and universal Church. Buffalo’s 14th bishop will record his weekly message in Daybreak’s studio in the Catholic Center and it will be shared each Friday. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION - Upcoming dates: March 3 & 17, April 14 & 28, May 5 & 19.

WORD AMONG US for Lent is now available in the church entrance. To help defray the cost, a $5 donation would be appreciated. COATS FOR OTHERS Once again our Religious Education children are collecting gently used coats, hats & scarves for those in need. Your contributions would be greatly appreciated. A large bag or box for these items is in the entrance of each church. RIGHT TO LIFE In connection with our program to respect life, marriage, and religious liberty, the parish Pro-Life Committee is making a variety of items available to any interested parishioner. At the back of each church is a box with these Pro-Life supplies. There are some bumper stickers ....."Choose Life-Your Mother Did" .... if you would like one for your car. There are also a dozen different smaller stickers that you can use on your envelopes or stationary. The slogans are meant to make the reader reflect on sanctity of life and perhaps think about the fact that for the past 40 years, America's Laws have not protected life. Please help yourself and continue to pray for a respect of life, marriage, and religious liberty in the USA. 16th ANNUAL ST. PATRICK’S DAY DINNER sponsored by Our Lady of Batavia Knights of Columbus Council #11728 on Saturday, March 9 from 5 pm till sold out. Held at St. Mary’s Church Hall, 18 Ellicott St., Batavia. Take outs are available. Cost is $9 per dinner and includes corned beef and cabbage, potatoes, carrots, beverage and dessert. Reserve tickets by calling Mike at 343-3810. Proceeds to benefit local charities. HAM DINNER – sponsored by Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 10675 Alleghany Road, Darien Center on Sunday, March 24, from noon till sold out. Dine in or take out. Adults $9; children 5-10 years $3; under 5 free. Includes ham, potatoes, vegetables, apple sauce, coleslaw, rolls/butter, beverage and dessert. LENTEN FISH FRY Once again, St. James Episcopal Church, 405 E. Main Street, Batavia is hosting their annual Friday Fish Fry. Take outs start at 4:30; dining room seating starts at 5. There are no phone-in orders for take out. Program runs from February 15 – March 22. Fish Fry $8.50, Desserts $3, Beverage $1.

FAITH MOMENT REFLECTION Many Christians start the season of Lent with good intentions. We commit to giving something up, or volunteering, or donating to a charity. But then, halfway into it, we don’t follow through. This week’s readings are all about follow-through. In the first reading God calls Moses to lead His people out of Egypt. But Moses hesitates – why me? Why don’t you send someone else? Yet Moses determines to listen to and obey God, even though he knows it will be difficult. As he leads the Israelites, things get more and more difficult. But Moses presses on and ultimately fulfills his commitment to both God and those he led. Like Moses, we too are called to listen to God and His Word. Then we must be willing to trust God and follow through with our commitments, even when the going gets tough. SAINTS FOR THE YEAR OF FAITH

ST. KATHARINE DRESEL, S.B.S. School builder and founder of the Sisters of the Blessed

Sacrament for Indians and Colored People

When she asked Pope Leo XIII to send more missionaries to Wyoming, he asked her, "Why don't you become a missionary?" As a young, wealthy, educated girl from Philadelphia, this was hardly the expected lifestyle for young Katharine Drexel. But raised in a devout family with a deep sympathy for the poor, Katharine gave up everything to become a missionary to the Indians and African Americans. She founded schools in thirteen states for African Americans, forty mission centers and twenty-three rural schools. She also established fifty missions for Indians in sixteen different states. She died at the age of ninety-six and was canonized in the year 2000.

GROWING IN FAITH Included in this bulletin is another issue which includes information about St. Katharine Drexel. Discover the hope and joy in the Catholic faith … take the time to read this issue. Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine.

~Lord Byron

 

Discovering hope and joy in the Catholic faith. March 2013

One Minute Meditations

St. Katharine Drexel The Year of Faith saint for March

was a heiress from ^ Philadelphia who

gave up a fortune to serve God. Although surrounded by \ wealth, she was raised in a devout family with a deep

j| I \ sympathy for the poor. Nudged /J /W to become a missionary by

Pope Leo XIII, she became a religious sister and founded schools in thirteen states for African Americans, fony mission centers and twenty-three rural schools. She also established fifty missions for Native Americans in sixteen different states.

"Expert" advice When struggling with

something difficult, don't give up because others say you should. Ask God to deepen your resolve. Almost every great idea faced experts who said it couldn't be done. "Strengthen me, as you have promised" (Psalm 119:28). Easter year round

"Sunday recalls the day of Christ's Resurrection. It is Easter which returns week by week, celebrating Christ's victory over sin and death." Pope

lohn Paul II, Dies J(j

Domini \ ( { | ^

Mary Immaculate Parish Rev. Richard J . Cilano, Pastor

Can you trust your conscience? "It felt just right." "I try to follow my

conscience but it's not always right." A conscience helps us tell right from wrong. A well-formed conscience keeps us out of trouble but a poorly-formed conscience can lead us astray. More than a feeling, a conscience is the voice of God calling us to do what is good.

A firm foundation. It's possible to have an ill-formed conscience and not even know it especially if it looks like everyone else's. For example, did we learn right and wrong from 'IV, movies, and popular culture? Instead, a Catholic conscience is informed through Church teaching about truths revealed by God.

Feelings vs. conscience. Just because we don't feel like doing something bad

doesn't mean we follow our conscience. A conscience isn't based on feelings. Instead, following our conscience means using reason to

consult Church teaching for guidance. We change our

feelings to match our conscience.

Church teaching is not subject to the whims of any

individual pope, bishop, or priest.

Church teaching is found in the Bible

and the Catechism. Prudence helps, too.

Prudence is a virtue that helps us choose our true good in each situation. At some point, prayer, study, and deliberation must give way to action. Prudence and our well-formed conscience combine to help us make the right choice.

Why Dos

Catholics Do That

Once known as "Last Rites" this sacrament was given at the moment of death. So that we can access Christ's healing and comfort when we need it, the Church revised it as, "Anointing of the Sick."

© Copyright 2013 Success Publishing & Media, LLC

What is the Anointing of the Sick?

When informed of a serious illness or necessary surgery, the Church encourages us to call our rectory or local priest to ask for

the Sacrament. It may be repeated for additional illnesses

or surgeries. Don't delay needlessly. This Sacrament is only for the living.

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Growing in Faith March 2013 Page 2

Choose new life after Easter When the Israelites were just about to enter the land that

had taken so long to reach, Moses wanted them to understand what was at stake. If they were going to stay there with God's blessing, Moses wanted to put the choice facing the Israelites into the clearest possible terms: Choose to follow God's laws and accept his love or choose death (Deuteronomy 30:19-20).

Life with G o d in love. The choice facing the Israelites was that simple and it's one we

face, too. We can choose to continue our good habits from Lent to live in God's friendship or lapse into life outside it.

Honesty over deceit. Self-control over sinful pleasure. Generosity over selfishness. One path means eternal life and the other results in misery.

The choice is ours. Isn't it amazing that the Creator of Heaven and Earth loves us so much that he lets us decide how we want to live? While our choices lead to consequences, he

respects our free w i l l and leaves the choice to us.

from̂ ^ c r i p t u r e

John 20 :1-9, The Resurrection of Jesus

John's love for Jesus helped him interpret the events of Easter morning When Maty Magdalene told the apostles what she saw at the tomb, John and Peter raced there to see for themselves. When John saw the way the burial cloths were arranged, he instantly understood. No one had taken the body. Knowing the habits of his friend, he understood that Jesus was resurrected as he had promised.

O n Easter morning, John recognized that Jesus is the Christ, the one anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, that he was sent to reconcile us

to God, and that Jesus was raised from the dead and is now judge of "the living and the dead." And John was there after the Resurrection when

Jesus created the Catholic Church and

commissioned her to preach and bear witness to Jesus

and to God's love for us. The lesson

for us is that our love for Jesus and our

devotion to h i m w i l l eventually reveal the truths of

many mysteries to us. The key is to love Jesus as intensely as his "beloved disciple."

March 17 - St. Patrick (493). Born in Scotland, St. Patrick was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave. He escaped but later returned to become the bishop of Ireland and is credited for having established the Church there.

March 19 - St. Joseph (1st century). Jesus' earthly father, devout Jew, and faithful husband to the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph is a model of fatherhood and a protector of families.

March 23 - St. Toribio de Mogrovejo (1606). A brilliant scholar, he was serving as professor of law at the University of Salamanca when he was

chosen to lead the archdiocese of Lima in Peru. He was ordained priest and bishop and worked with intense fervor to strengthen his diocese.

March 24 - Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion. The Sunday before Easter is called Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion because it recalls Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem when he was greeted by crowds^ waving palms and cheering, and it marks the beginning of Holy Week

Q Do I have to know St and believe everything A the Church teaches? The Catholic Church is like a well

that offers life-giving water. You don't have to drink from it but it makes it

awfully hard to live forever if you don't.

What the Catholic Church offers us is truth and faith handed down from Christ. Our baptism as Catholics make us members of his Body,

with the expectation that we wi l l do our best to learn what that entails and accept the responsibilities of being members of his Body. We aren't owners of the Body, but privileged and beloved parts.

A l l that the Church offers is too much to take in at once, which makes faith a marvelous, life-long journey. It's hard to understand everything the Church teaches and that Christ wants us to know, so we are asked to believe prior to being able to understand. That is called faith. We are given the gift of exploring why our beliefs are true, and don't have to worry if they are true. Jesus said they are and that's good enough for us.

O u r M i s s i o n To provide practical ideas that promote

faithful Catholic l iving. Success Publishing & Media , LLC

Publishers of G r o w i n g in Faith™ and Partners in Faith" (540)662-7844 (540)662-7847 fax

http://www.growinginfaith.com (1 Inless noted Hible quotes and references .ire from

the Revised Standard Version and the New American Hible)

) Copyright 2013 Success Publishing & Media, LLC

The Third Week of Lent

RENEW YOUR FAITH

Year of Faith

Reflections

for the

Season of Lent

The Parable of the Fig Tree Luke 13:1-9

Jesus tells the parable of the fig tree in the context of salvation. W h o w i l l find favor in God's heavenly kingdom? Those who "bear fruit" or witness to their faith in Jesus w i l l be rewarded with everlasting life. In this Year of Faith, let us become "joy-filled witnesses to Christ" even as we journey through the somber season of Lent.

OWITNESS IN WORD. Try to give up gossip for Lent. We live in a culture saturated

with anger and negativity. Joyfully witness to the Gospel by offering a word of kindness or compassion. Instead of writing a letter of complaint, pen a note of thanks for good service or a job well done.

OWITNESS IN SPIRIT. Start a

"prayer project" this Lent. Offer a prayer first thing in the morning, at mealtimes, and before bed each evening. Pray for friends and relatives, pray for enemies and those with whom you struggle, and pray for the dead that they may find eternal rest in God.

OWITNESS IN DEED. Bearing fruit means living as Jesus taught us — loving G o d and our neighbor as much as

ourselves. Cal l or visit someone who is lonely. Buy a few groceries for a shut-in or someone recovering from surgery. Offer to babysit for a family with small children. As Matthew's Gospel reminds us, that by J our fruits we shall be known (7:20).

Words of m a * The Greek term metanoia, whose root meaning is "change of mind or outlook," comes to mean in the Gospel "an about face

or turnaround." This Sundays Gospel is calling us to turn our lives around and return to our loving God.

"he Crosses in Our Lives by Lorene Hartley Duquin

Jesus tells us that if we are going to be his followers, we have to "pick up our cross and follow h i m " (Matthew 16:24). Sometimes we pick up the wrong crosses.

There is an old story about a married couple that had a lot of crosses that they dragged around with them. Every day, they begged the Lord to take away some of their crosses. One night Jesus appeared and said, "Show me the crosses." The couple emptied their sack. They had many black crosses in various sizes, and one gold cross.

Jesus picked up the gold cross and said: "This is the true cross. The black crosses are all of your own making. Get rid of them and you'll discover that the true cross wil l be light because I w i l l help you carry it."

We all experience pain and difficulties in life. But how many of the crosses that we carry are of our own making?

The real crosses in our lives always lead to resurrection and new

life. The real crosses are bearable because Jesus promises that "my

yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:30).

Carec/i/smCONNECTION

How often are they due to anger or resentments that stem from hurts we were never able to forgive?

How often do

they stem from

envy over not

having what

someone else has?

In this Year of Faith, Catholics are encouraged to read the Catechism of

the Catholic Church anew. The fruits of our faith shine through when we share our gifts with our parish, community, and world:

The body's unity does not do away with the diversity of its members: "In

the building up of Christ's Body there is engaged a diversity of members

and functions. There is only one Spirit who, according to his own richness

and the needs of the ministries, gives his different gifts for the welfare of the

Church."(CCC, 791)

We Live By Faith Perhaps the greatest witness of our

Catholic faith is the real presence of Jesus Christ in the holy Eucharist. In his apostolic letter Porta Fidei ("Door of Faith"), Pope Benedict X V I encourages all believers to encounter the real and living Christ in this Year of Faith:

"By faith, the disciples formed the first

community, gathered around the teaching

of the apostles, in prayer, in celebration of

the Eucharist, holding their possessions

in common so as to meet the needs of the

brethren."

How am I transformed by receiving the holy Eucharist this Lenten season?

D O N A T I O N B O X

Talk about ways to share your Catholic faith as a family. How can you let your light shine by sharing your talents in your parish? Volunteer in your parish: help sort donations from the parish food drive.

Thinkstoclc

Copyright © by Our Sunday Visitor. Inc Nihil Obstat Msgr. Michael Heintz. Ph D Censor Librotum Impiimatur* Kevin C Rhoades, Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend October 29.2012

CHICKEN BBQ SUNDAY, MARCH 10

We are still in need of volunteers this week: Wednesday at 5 pm, Saturday at 9 am, and Sunday – the day of the BBQ. Whether you received an assignment or not, everyone is needed to make the BBQ a success. Please do not assume others are doing the job …

YOU are needed.

Additionally, all parishioners are asked to contribute pies or cakes for the dessert. Pies are especially appreciated by our customers. So, all you good bakers, time to get cracking!! ☺ Baked goods can be dropped off on Saturday morning between 9 am – 11:30 am or can be left in the breezeway on Saturday. Please have your baked goods dropped off before 10:30 am on Sunday morning.

CHICKEN BBQ –                                                      APRIL 7, 2013

AUCTION - JUNE 22, 2013  

PARISH BREAKFAST – OCTOBER 20, 2013

TURKEY RAFFLE – NOVEMBER 9, 2013