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Pastor Weekly Message For March 6, 2022
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March 9, 2022Jesus Is Lord!
Dear: Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The Holy Season of Lent sets before us three penitential practices – Prayer, Almsgiving, and Fasting – to help prepare us spiritually for the Paschal mystery of the resurrection of our Lord on Easter Sunday. Prayer, Almsgiving, and Fasting form an integral unity in our spiritual preparation to help us “dispel all evil, wash guilt away, restore lost innocence, bring mourners joy, cast out hatred, bring us peace and humble earthly pride.” (Exsultet, Easter Proclamation.)
Prayer and Fasting.
This First Sunday of Lent, we hear in the Gospel: “Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry.” (Mt 4,1-
2) Through prayer and fasting, Jesus overcame the series of battles with the tempter, preparing Himself for the mission of redemption that lay before Him. Pope Francis has asked all people to combat the “diabolical senselessness of violence” of Russia’s war on Ukraine with prayer and fasting. The pope is right in calling the war against the innocent people of Ukraine “diabolical.” As Jesus defeated the devil with prayer and fasting, so will our prayer and fasting do the same. Please pray and fast for the people of Ukraine. Visit the Adoration Chapel and pray, pray, pray.
Almsgiving.
During Lent, we are asked to focus more intently on "almsgiving," which means donating money or goods to the poor and performing other acts of charity. As one of the three pillars of Lenten practice, almsgiving is "a witness to fraternal charity" and “a work of justice pleasing to God." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2462).
I am asking to consider your “almsgiving,” your sacrificial financial support, to the Ave Maria Fund. Central to the mission of Saint Mary Parish is our commitment to Catholic education at Saint Mary School and making it available to every parish family. Canon Law which governs the Church states that “All Christ’s faithful are to promote Catholic schools, doing everything possible to help in establishing and maintaining them.” Your financial support to the Ave Maria Fund ensures that parish families who are practicing their faith by attending Holy Mass each week and who desire their child(ren) to attend Saint Mary School, regardless of their financial situations, can do so. You can make your almsgiving to the Ave Maria Fund during the second collection at Mass each week or by visiting our parish webpage at www.stmarychurchnj.org/give. Thank you for your support to the Ave Maria Fund.
Finally, the Lenten theme this year is “Return to the Lord.” Our parish will again host “24 Hours for the Lord,” priests will be available for Confessions with Adoration from Friday, March 25th at 4:00 pm to Saturday, March 26th at 4:00 pm. Save the dates.
Have a blessed week!
In Jesus and Mary,
Father Jeff Kegley
Pastor