We are well into Lent and with it a lot has been going on in the parish. Last week I published a brief letter and schedule for our Engage, Equip, Send Initiative. On it there were two major activities: fasting and adoration. During Lent the Church asks us to individually pick something from which to fast. This Lent I would ask those who are healthy and able to adopt the traditional Friday Fast of Lent. This is an ancient custom in which the faithful would treat every Friday in Lent like Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. That is, only two small meals and one normal meal that day. Eastern Catholics and Orthodox Christians still observe this fast in varying degrees. I have adopted this practice for this Lent and I would ask those able to do so as well. Our communal fast as a parish can lead to great spiritual insights and consolations as we prepare ourselves to figure out how God wants to lead our parish.
This past week we had our parish mission. Dr. Holly Taylor Coolman spoke on Tuesday night and gave an excellent talk titled: “Come to the Table.” In it she detailed the issue of disconnect in our families and culture and strategies to overcome this. On Wednesday our Youth Minister and Confirmation Coordinator Liz Cotrupi-Pfunder led us in song and worship. We spent the night in Eucharistic adoration praying before our Lord for our families. It was an honor to have with us two Nashville Dominican sisters from St. Pius V in Providence. We do not get a chance to see religious sisters as often in the present. In fact, many of our school students have never seen a religious sister. How can our young girls and woman know that this is a possible life for them if they never get a chance to see them. So, it was very good to have the sisters join us for prayer that evening. I want to thank everyone who helped run our mission this year (whether the speakers, the babysitters, singers), but in particular Liz who coordinated it.
A couple of weeks ago we had our Paint and Vino night in the church hall. I want to thank all those in the Knights of Columbus who organized it and in particular Knight Billy Goodwin. It was a fantastic night and I discovered that we have some pretty talented painters in the parish.
I am very sad to report that Buster Wall passed away last week. We had his funeral this past Saturday. He has been a tremendous presence in the parish and the community throughout his entire life. Please pray for the repose of his soul and for his family.