Posted on March 9, 2024 View all news
First of all, I want to thank everyone who signed up for an hour or more of Adoration during our annual Forty Hours. This year, we had over 300 Holy Hours, which makes this the largest Forty Hours since I have been here by far. Thank you to everyone who also promoted sign-ups and those who helped organize the parish potluck after the closing. These are always meant to be grace-filled moments in the life of a parish. Hopefully, this also helped to focus us during what is so often such a noisy world. The Blessed Sacrament is the life of the Church. Toward the end of the month, we will celebrate Holy Thursday, the day on which Our Lord instituted the Most Holy Eucharist and the priesthood. May the graces we gain from the Holy Eucharist enable us to face the struggles and difficulties of living in this world and truly be our strength and guide towards Eternal Life.
The month of March is dedicated to St. Joseph. St. Joseph is an important figure in the life of Our Lord, the Church, and certainly the Oratory. On March 19, 2017, the Holy Father established our house, and so we will celebrate our seventh anniversary this year. Please pray with us daily to the patron of the Universal Church for all the intentions of the Oratory, and ask him to be a dutiful protector of our families, our priests and brothers, the sisters, the parishes, and certainly the Oratory. It was certainly no coincidence that March 19 was the date chosen for us by the Holy Father. May we ever fly to St. Joseph!
I also encourage you to pray for all of our Catechumens and Candidates who will be baptized or enter the Church at the Easter Vigil. We will have four baptized and seven received into the Church. Entrust them also to St. Joseph during this last month of their preparation to embrace the Faith and as they progress closer to the Altar to receive Our Lord for the first time in Holy Communion. Pray also for all those who will be confirmed. They have all studied and prepared diligently this past year, and I know they will appreciate your prayers these final weeks!
Lastly, join us for the Old St. Mary’s Fish Fry this year and the Sacred Heart ravioli sale. Both fundraisers support our churches and help to keep these special places going. Most importantly, be sure to join us for Holy Week. You can find the Holy Week schedule in the March newsletter.
I pray that we each have a fruitful remaining Lent and Holy Week and a beautiful celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection!
