From the Pastor’s Desk

Dear St. Mary’s Parishioners,

 Recently, a couple of friends asked my counsel as to Lenten disciplines or practices they might take up.  I suggested that they might choose something meaningful to do for at least a half hour each day. Attending daily Mass during Lent would be at the top of the list, but I also listed some other practices:  spiritual reading, meditation, Eucharistic Adoration, skip a meal, pray for the deceased, homeless and incarcerated, pray the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet.  To be sure, one could also volunteer one’s time to one of the outreach efforts we have at the parish, including the Food Locker and Feed My People, St. Vincent de Paul and Soup for the Soul.

One of the spiritual and cultural resources at our disposal at St. Mary’s is Formed.   We have an annual subscription thanks to your generosity.  So, you might as well take advantage of it.  To find out what is offered on Formed, simply go to www.formed.org and sign in or sign up, if you don’t already have an account. Formed offers a number of videos, movies, audio books and other spiritual supports in both English and Spanish. Among other Formed highlights, you can take a spiritual pilgrimage to the Holy Land.  Triduum: A Spiritual Journey will take you to the sites of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.   You can also take advantage of devotional electronic content such as The Divine Mercy Chaplet with the Franciscan Friars of Renewal. You can pray the Stations of the Cross with the help of Glimpses Along the Way which is collection of three audio talks.  For children, there is Lent with Brother Francis, available in English and Spanish.  These are just a few of the offerings on Formed.  In the meantime, don’t forget about our Stations on the Cross on the Fridays of Lent, in English at 5:30p and in Spanish at 7:15p, with soup supper in the hall at 6:15p.  And, we have confessions on Tuesdays at 5:30p and on Saturdays at 3:30p.  Also, please see the bulletin to stay informed about the bible studies that are being offered virtually and facilitated by Wyman Adcock. 

May you have a blessed Lent and a blessed week!  

In Christ Jesus,

Father Berg