Ready or not, Lent begins this Wednesday. In another part of the bulletin, you will find the full schedule for Ash Wednesday and the Lenten Regulations for Catholics. Besides fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday – and abstaining from meat on all Fridays – I encourage you to make your own plan for increased prayer, fasting and almsgiving during this important season. On the bulletin boards, I have placed a list of suggestions from “Mary’s Aggies.” They are a group of Catholics at Texas A & M. They have practical suggestions such as waking up 20 minutes early to start the day with prayer, volunteering with St. Vincent de Paul and fasting from snacking, internet and TV.
I want to encourage Holy Family parishioners to make a good Lenten Confession. Fr. Ramon and I have scheduled some additional times for that wonderful sacrament. For example, you can receive Reconciliation on Friday evenings at 7 p.m. (right after Stations of the Cross and Soup Supper).
Also, this Lent we are offering the Anointing of the Sick on February 13 at the 6 p.m. (English) and 7 p.m. (Spanish) Masses. This is part of the World Day of the Sick. The Anointing not only brings spiritual and physical healing, but also helps the ill join their suffering to those of Christ. This is especially vital in a society that considers suffering absurd and futile. Those who stand under the Cross of Christ can never accept that viewpoint. Our entire observance of Lent focuses on the Redemption Jesus won for us by his Passion, Death and Resurrection.
On the Second Sunday of Lent, we will receive a wonderful blessing: Fr. Peter West from Priests for Life will give the homily at all Masses that weekend (Feb 16-17). As a preparation for Fr. West’s visit, we have a bulletin insert titled “You Can Save Someone’s Life Today.” It contains a variety of suggestions of things you and I can do to end abortion, which kills a baby every 23 seconds in America. At the March for Life, a couple from Holy Family held a sign saying “Abortion…One Heart Stops, Another Heart Breaks.” That sums up the tragedy of abortion. By prayer, fasting and almsgiving, we can help those wounded by that tragedy and help prevent others from falling into it.
One of the most important things Holy Family Parish does to help children and families is supporting our parish school. This Sunday we conclude the celebration of Catholic Schools Week with the Open House and Distinguished Alumnus Award at our 11 a.m. Mass. Our parish school depends on the dedication and sacrifice of many people. It is a pleasure to honor Cindy Cleary (and her mom, Rosemary) for their tremendous commitment. The award reminds us of those who have sacrificed over the years to enable us to have a Catholic school here at Holy Family. This weekend I invite you to pray in a special way for Holy Family School and to make a donation in the two-bit collection to enable children of needy families to attend our parish school.
Do not neglect your physical well-being during Lent. Try to find a time for exercise and to breathe fresh air. It is not easy on cold days, but that can be a part of one’s Lenten discipline. As part of that plan, I invite you take part in the annual Cathedral Walk on March 9. We will leave from Holy Family at 7 a.m. that Saturday morning and arrive around 11:30 at St. James for Mass. It is a beautiful event. If you have not taken part in the Cathedral Walk, consider joining us this year.
Este miercoles (6 de febrero) es el comienzo de la Cuaresma. En el boletin hay el horario de misas y servicios para recibir la ceniza. Tambien se puede encontrar las normas catolicas para de ayuno y abstenencia durante la Cuaresma. Recuerdan: El Miercoles de Ceniza y los siete viernes de Cuaresma no comer carne (pollo, hamburguesa, cordero, hot dog, etc.). Se puede comer pescado.
Ademas de la abstinencia de carne en los dias viernes, la Cuaresma es tiempo de formar un plan de oracion, ayuno y limosna. La penitencia voluntaria nos une con la Cruz de Cristo que nos da la salvacion. Otra practica esencial de esta temporada es la Confesion. El Padre Ramon y yo estamos ofreciendo un horario ampliado de confesiones que se puede ver en los tablones de anuncios (bulletin boards) a las entrada del templo. Todos los viernes a las 7 p.m. (despues de la Cena de Sopa y durante la Via Crucis) habrá oportunidad de recibir el Sacramento de Reconciliacion.
Hay otras lindas oportunidades durante la Cuaresma: El 10 de febrero a la 1:45 p.m. la Dra. Gina Landicho dará una presentacion sobre el Metodo Billings de Planificacion Natural de la Familia. El 13 de febrero en honor al Dia Mundial del Enfermo ofreceremos la Uncion de los Enfermos en la misa de 7 p.m. El Segundo Domingo de Cuaresma (17 de feb) el Padre Pedro West de Priests for Life (Sacerdotes Para la Vida) predicará en todas las misas. Y no pierdan la Caminata a la Catedral, el 8 de marzo, saliendo de Holy Family a las 7 p.m.
Dear Parishioners,
Thank you for your outstanding support of Holy Family Parish School. We have a great Catholic school. We could not do it without your excellent Stewardship.
Thank you for your generous support of the 2-Bit Collection taken up this last weekend for a school project, that being to purchase paint and the other supplies needed to re-paint the classrooms in the Tice Hall.
Thank you for your support of today’s 2-Bit Collection for Tuition Assistance. Your generosity makes it possible for families to attend Holy Family Parish School that could not otherwise do so.
Thank you for participating in the School Annual Fund Drive. In today’s bulletin there is an insert giving more information about this opportunity.
Please drop by your parish, Catholic school between 9:00 and 1:00, today and visit with our teachers. Today marks the end of a wonderful Catholic Schools Week. Thank you again.
God Bless, Glen t. Lutz Proud Principal 2008 FINAL STEWARDSHIP PLEDGE RESULTSBelow, you will see our final tally of our 2008 Pledge Drive. We would like to extend one last thank you to all who made a commitment of Time, Talent or Treasure to Holy Family for 2008! Please see the bulletin insert for a list of our 2008 Pledge Parishioners. In addition to our many generous financial pledges, we also had a good amount of interest shown by those wanting to pledge their Stewardship of Talent by serving in one of our many ministries. We deeply appreciate all who volunteer of their time in service to the parish and our Lord. If you made a new commitment to share your Talent this year, a ministry head should be contacting you this month. Please call me at the Parish Office if you signed up for a new ministry and have not been called by someone in the next three weeks or so. Once again, thank you for your faithful Stewardship to Holy Family for 2008.
Mary French Stewardship Coordinator Total Registered Households: 1243 Approximate Budget for 1st Collection: $639,000 2008 Stewardship Pledge Drive: 430 Parishioners pledged $372,434.25 Past Giving Statistics 2007: 394 Parishioners pledged $346,006.55 2006: 442 Parishioners pledged $395,545.00 2005: 284 Parishioners pledged $249,722.50 First Collection Stewardship for Week 31 of Fiscal Year (July 1, 2007 – January 27, 2008) Budgeted Year to Date: $380,959.00 Collected Year to Date: $363,171.99 Income Difference Year to Date (-) $ 17,787.01 Amount Needed Each Sunday: $ 12,289.00 Last Sunday’s Offering: $ 9,298.93 Weekly Income Difference: (-) $ 2,990.07 Some of the Gifts from the Other Half of our Stewardship 2-bit Collection (Paint Supplies for School): $ 1,165.15 Capital Campaign Total Households Pledging: 678 Total Pledged: $1,189,221.07 Total Paid: $ 977,480.26 Balance: $ 211,740.81 Delinquency Amount to Date: $ 133,139.25