Dear Parishioners,
Our Sympathy to Fran and Larry Pitzl family on the death of their son-in-law Terry Harrington. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.
This weekend is World Marriage Day (the second Sunday of February). It gives us yet another chance to thank God for the gift of marriage in which man and woman unite themselves in a partnership for life for the good of children. The still recent vote to define marriage thus, and the potential legislative action to redefine marriage as a sort of legal recognition of sexual partners (and little more), reminds us that this is not as self-evident as once thought. I am so pleased that there is a day to formally praise God, and to thank those husbands and wives who have lived the mystery of marriage in their lives and many years together. As a reminder, I am more than willing to give a formal blessing of married couples on your anniversaries, even if you are not having anything 'formal' otherwise. We need to continue to promote healthy marriages as the antidote to divorce, adultery, abuse, in addition to the attempted redefinition efforts. Just call me!
This Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, and Ash Wednesday is a day of fast for those 18-59 years of age, and abstinence from meat (as is Good Friday) for all over 14. Every Friday of Lent is also a day of abstinence. Fasting means one normal meal with perhaps two smaller meals as needed. Abstinence is for meat, but not necessarily of dairy, eggs, or foods made with animal fats. This Lenten season calls us to other acts of penance and almsgiving, too. These next few days, we should all take some time to reflect on areas of our lives that need Christ's healing, and chose a penance appropriate.
In Christ,
Fr. Todd
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