Message From The Pastor

Salvation is found in no one else but Christ. It is in Christ that we are given the promise of eternal life. In Baptism, Christ promises us that if we are faithful Christians we will live with Him forever. To be a faithful Christian is to love God and to love one another! Are you a faithful Christian? Do you love God? Do you love others as you should? During this Season of Lent each one of us must ask these questions of ourselves.

In the words of St. Paul, "I beg you, to live a life worthy of the calling you have received, with perfect humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another lovingly. Make every effort to preserve the unity which has the Spirit as its origin and peace as its binding force." (Ephesians 4). Join with us, the people of Saint Michael Parish, as we journey together through Lent. There is strength in numbers, and we need to share with one another the struggles of this life, so that together we may rejoice in the Glory of God.

Let us be united in the Sacrifice of Christ, through prayer, study and reflection, at daily Mass and at Mass on Sunday, at the Stations of the Cross, in the Sacrament of Penance, through the Lenten Longings Program, with the Palm Sunday Almsgiving Collection and through the Services of Holy Week to the Joy of Easter!!!

During this Lent may we develop greater reverence for the Holy Eucharist. Before his death, Pope John Paul II asked all Catholics to make a simple bow to the Eucharist as we approach this most Sacred Sacrament in Holy Communion. Some of us have made this our common practice, yet most of us have not yet become accustomed to bowing before we receive Holy Communion. Let us make every effort to put this reverent action into our daily practice.

Let us also join together in a common sacrifice during this Lent. Place a bowl, a jar, a cup somewhere in your home or room in order to place your Lenten Sacrifice each week. As there are UNICEF boxes at Halloween, and Rice Bowls at Easter time, have a Lenten Cup for your donations to the Palm Sunday Almsgiving Collection. As a community, let us sacrifice together for the good of our parish. Let us sacrifice each week this Lent as an offering to one another. Sacrifice going out to dinner this week and place the money saved in your Lenten Cup. Instead of renting a movie, spend the evening reading and keep the savings as part of your almsgiving. Let us be mindful of how we can sacrifice one pleasure in order to give generously to another.

Remember, Lent is a time of sacrifice and offering ourselves to God, of prayer for the needs of the world, and of support and kindness for the poor. When Easter comes, may we celebrate the gift of new life given to us by Christ through His death and resurrection.

Together, let us follow Christ!
Father Albert L. Capone