From the Pastor's Desk

Dear Holy Rosary Family,

Now that the holy season of Lent has begun, it is my prayer that this be a season of many and great blessings for all of you. In no way should these forty days be viewed as morose, or even less celebratory as the rest of the liturgical year. These are days which hold many blessings for all who take advantage of the observance of this time. Christ Jesus, our loving Lord, is inviting us to be His followers in the in most intimate of ways. He invites us to sacrifice with Him, to pray with Him, to live in beautiful harmony with Him. What a blessing to be so called! Do you hear Him saying "Come, follow Me”?

Yes, there are crosses involved in following Him, but these crosses are what will make us saints one day. Voluntary and prayerful sacrifices strengthen us to bear all the inevitable crosses which all of us must bear at one time or another. But, even more importantly, our sacrifices and crosses assure us of a share in Christ's Resurrection-eternally. Lent is like the Lord handing us the keys to eternal happiness. Blessed the person who takes these keys from the hand of our Merciful Lord.

So, what sacrifices are you undertaking for Lent? How much does the invitation of the Lord mean to you? Will you try to fit in some daily Masses during Lent? If you haven't been going to Sunday Mass regularly, will you try to resume the regular practice of doing so? Will you be going to confession a few times, to get the rich blessings that can only be had in this sacrament? Will you make the Stations of the Cross in your parish churches? Do you have the courage to abstain from any worldly delights during this holy season? From what are you going to abstain? Are you undertaking some charitable cause? What are you doing to help the less fortunate? Are you helping monetarily, or with your time? (This kind of sacrifice atones for so many of our own sins.) Really, what are you doing for Lent?

If we want Easter to mean anything at all, first we must die with Christ in sacrifice. Let us LIVE LENT. Let us LIVE THE RICH BLESSINGS OF OUR CATHOLIC FAITH. It's never too soon to say 'Alleluia… Thank you, Lord, for all the opportunities You bestow on us".

God bless you,
and may Our Lady's prayers
strengthen you on your Lenten journey.

Father McCreedy