The Sacrament of Reconciliation
“God has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18). Last week, 78 of our parishioners received the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time. On Wednesday of this week, everyone in the parish is encouraged to attend our Lenten Penance Service, which begins at 7:00pm; several priests will be available to hear your confession. During this Season of Lent, when we are all invited to recognize our sinfulness that put Jesus on the cross, we are also encouraged by Jesus’ clear [...]
CHILDREN, GIFTS FROM GOD
I imagine you have learned that the Alabama Supreme Court recently ruled that embryos are to be recognized as human beings. As a result, several fertility clinics in the state have informed their clients that they will no longer be able to continue their in vitro treatments for fear of possible lawsuits. This has caused an uproar in the media. Allow me to offer you a summary of the Catholic Church’s very clear teaching in this regard; you will find it in our Catechism of the Catholic Church. It begins [...]
THIRD SUNDAY LENT (Year B)
Exodus 20:1 - 17 Last Sunday, we heard of God’s test for Abraham after he had made a covenant with him. This follows the reading from the First Sunday of Lent, in which we heard about the covenant that God made with Noah and his descendents. This week, we hear the commandments that God gives to his people at Mt. Sinai as part of that covenant. We read about the ratification of the covenant and Moses going up Mt. Sinai in chapter 24; let’s read that first to prepare us [...]
Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa was founded on the basic principles of Saint John Paul II’s call to action in Ecclesia in Africa and the adoption of the statement A Call to Solidarity with Africa from the Bishops of the United States. Nations throughout Africa continually face the economic and social hurdles of enormous debt, epidemics, severe poverty and political unrest. Despite these harsh challenges, Catholicism is flourishing throughout Africa. Your support of the Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa [...]
AS WE ENTER FULLY INTO THE SEASON OF LENT
“See, I am now establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you” (Gn 9:8). As we begin again the Season of Lent, we hear today God’s reassuring words to Noah and his family after the devastating flood. We are all familiar with this story in the Bible which provides a moral explanation for the end of the last Ice Age. As this story ends, we hear God assuring humanity that he will care for us; all we need to do is turn away from our sinful ways and [...]
LENT BEGINS
It’s been a strange and unusually warm winter, hasn’t it? With the exception of a few extraordinarily frigid days and one snow storm, it’s felt more like fall or spring than winter. Now, spring is fast approaching. Liturgically, Lent – which means “spring” – is almost here; it starts this week with Ash Wednesday. Just as the natural world is reawakened and renewed every spring, each year, the Church, in her wisdom, offers us this liturgical Season of Lent, a season for reconciliation and renewal in preparation for Easter, when [...]