We had a nice visit this week from Eastside Catholic High School students. They came as a part of their annual Peace and Justice Day, which involved visiting different sites which promote social justice. Social justice involves defense and protection of those who are weak. Obviously, the weakest and most defenseless are unborn children, so the Peace and Justice Day included visits to groups which support mothers who are facing a crisis pregnancy. Susan Purcell and Ginnie Hance, who are Birthright volunteers here at Holy Family, met with the students from Eastside Catholic to explain the work of this crisis pregnancy center. As you know, Birthright utilizes the two front rooms of the Ailbe House to offer assistance to girls and young women who come for advice, counsel and assistance. The picture shows the Eastside Catholic students with their teacher, Mr. Emmet Hogan (second row on right side) along with Susan and Ginnie.

Eastside Catholic at Holy Family Birthright

This weekend we have the first of the three Scrutinies. It takes place during the 5 p.m. Mass. The Second Scrutiny will be at the 8 a.m. Mass next Sunday and the Third Scrutiny on March 25 at the 11 a.m. Mass. As we accompany the catechumens and candidates toward the Easter sacraments, it provides us an opportunity to renew our own faith. As a help to this, you will find a number of excellent pamphlets in the vestibule. Of particular interest are the Our Sunday Visitor pamphlets on Christian Initiation of Adults, Pope Benedict’s First Encyclical and Eucharistic Adoration. Also, you will find booklets titled What Catholics Believe and Humanae Vitae (a simplified version of Pope Paul VI’s Encyclical on Artificial Contraception by Msgr. Vincent M. Walsh).

Next Sunday we have the collection for Catholic Relief Services. At the entrances of the church, you can pick up a beautiful prayer card, which I invite you to say this week. “May we, to whom much has been given, respond with generosity and compassion to our suffering brothers and sisters worldwide.” Sometimes we forget the enormous blessing we have received and the duty to share those blessings with those who have much less.

At the Masses last weekend, I mentioned what our school children are doing during Lent to live Jesus’ call to prayer, sacrifice and giving. Among the various possible projects, I am delighted that many of our children are sacrificing to help children in Peru. Each year the Mary Bloom Center helps a certain number of parents send their children to school by providing notebooks, pencils, shoes and uniforms. Without this help these children would not be able to attend school. It costs about twenty dollars to equip a Peruvian child for school. This is an example of how our sacrifices can help others in great need.

Your sacrifices make it possible for Holy Family Parish to fulfill its mission. We had an inspiring example earlier this month. As part of our Capital Campaign, we dedicated the pre-K classroom in honor of Al and Nell Wheeler. The picture shows Nell in the middle, with pre-K teacher Bonnie Beckwith, principal Glen Lutz, Fr. Ramon and your pastor. Nell Wheeler reminds us of so many people whose love and constancy make Holy Family such a wonderful parish.

Dedication of Holy Family Pre-K in honor of Al & Nell Wheeler

With just four weeks until Easter Sunday, I ask you all to make a re-commitment to Jesus, to your fellow parishioners and our needy brothers and sisters.