Sunday, March 27, 2022 - The Fourth Sunday of Lent – Laetare Sunday
March26,2022
My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
One of the chief works of Lent is to give money to those in need. This year the Ukraine is a country in great need with over 3 million refugees from the mad dictatorship of Vladimir Putin. Our CRS (Catholic Relief Services) collection is this weekend and earmarked for the Ukraine.
During Lent it has been a long tradition to revisit the confessional. Though sometimes soul searching this Sacrament from the Lord Himself assures us that our sins are forgiven and offers healing and additional graces towards a healthier Christian life. 5 Steps are necessary to make a good confession: Find out my sins. This is often called an examination of conscience. The standards used are the Ten Commandments, the Laws of the Church, and the Beatitudes. Be sorry for my sins.
Make up my mind not to sing again. This is called a firm resolution not to sin again. Tell my sins to the priest. All mortal sins must be confessed according to kind and number. We are only sure that mortal sins are forgiven if we bring them to the confessional. Do the penance the priest gives me.
Consult the Catechism of the Catholic Church for details.
To make it easier for you this Lent we will have two Communal Penance Services on Wednesday, March 30 and Wednesday, April 6 at 7pm. There will be four confessors and visiting preachers: Fr. Cameron Polette on the 30th of March and Fr. Nicholas Case on the 6th of April.
Our souls rejoice when the burden of sin is washed away, and more room is made for the Lord to live in our lives. Only a good Lent makes a good Easter.
Yours in the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Fr. Mark G. Mazza, Pastor