A word from Pope Francis ~ “Let us not miss out on the grace-filled opportunities born of encounter, listening and discernment, in the joyful conviction that, even as we seek the Lord, he always comes with his love to meet us first.”
Today, we mark the Second Sunday of Lent. Our Gospel reading this weekend gives us Matthew’s account of Jesus’ Transfiguration. It is a moment of glory when everything in Jesus’ life came together. Coming at this point in our Lenten journey, this Gospel is a bit like an hors d’oeuvres – it is meant to give us a sneak-peak of the glory that Jesus won for us through his death and resurrection. And it is promised to us if we are faithful in living our call to be Jesus’ disciples. Our personal moments of glory, those moments when it seems as if everything in our life comes together, brief as they may be, are hints of what awaits us in God’s Kingdom.
We are very happy to welcome Deacon Bill Johnson to our parish this weekend. He is speaking at Masses this weekend to invite us all to come in the evenings for our Lent 2023 Parish Mission. Prior to COVID, we regularly offered a 3-evening parish mission during Lent. I am very happy that we are now able to restore this practice. Deacon Bill is a gifted speaker and presented at the retreat day for our staff last August. He will be sharing his reflections with us on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evenings from 7:00-8:30 pm. Then, our Lent 2023 Parish Reconciliation Service will take place on Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm. Please join us for any or all of the nights, as you are able.
During these early weeks of Lent, the Scripture readings and Mass prayers at our weekday Masses invite us to seriously respond to the call to conversion of heart that we heard both on Ash Wednesday and on the First Sunday of Lent last weekend. We are encouraged to continue in our efforts to enter into the season as best we can. The initial invitation is repeated again and again. We are called to deepen our response as disciples of the Lord Jesus. We are called to take the next step in our life-long task of turning away from our sinfulness and turning toward God. The traditional Lenten penances of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are held up before us as excellent ways of responding to this challenge to faithfully live this mission during the Lenten season.
Last weekend at our 5:00 pm Saturday Mass, we affirmed the progress of our catechumen, Emily Bula, in the OCIA process and formally sent her to the diocesan Rite of Election last Sunday at St. Raymond’s Cathedral in Joliet. Congratulations to Emily and to her sponsors, who accompany her on this journey. She was formally called to celebrate the Easter Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil on Saturday, April 8. As she spends this Lent in preparation for her initiation into our community at Easter, she is a living sign of the conversion that we are all called to experience this Lent. We promise her the support of our prayers throughout the coming weeks.
Thank you to all who have already pledged to the 2023 Joliet Diocesan Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal, and especially to those who responded to Bishop Hick’s homily and pledged at our recent in-pew “Commitment Weekend.” This Appeal is the major source of funding for all of our Diocesan ministries and charities. We are doing everything possible to reach our 2023 CMAA goal of $147,500, and this can be accomplished only with the participation of each family in our parish. If you haven’t had a chance to pledge yet, please do so as soon as possible. Envelopes are available in the Narthex and at the Parish Office, or you can give online at http://stisidoreparish.org/giving. Your generosity is deeply appreciated.
As Lent progresses, let us continue to pray for and to support each other in our Lenten practices. Many opportunities for the traditional Lenten practices of Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving are listed in the bulletin, as well as times for the sacrament of Reconciliation and offerings for Adult Faith Formation. Know that your priests pray for you each day. May God continue to bless us with everything that we need, and more.
Father Jim Murphy