The Pastor's Pen

March 27, 2022, Fourth Sunday of Lent

Lent Gets Longer: We may have started out on Ash Wednesday with enthusiasm for our own personal campaign of reform, committed to praying more frequently and deeply, and a plan of what we might “give up” as well as some good works we might take on. Perhaps our zeal for living Lent was reinforced two weeks ago by the opportunity to participate in a parish mission but as we finish the third week of lent and begin the fourth there is likely a temptation for our enthusiasm for all things Lent to begin to wane. Indeed with two weeks to go before Holy Week begins it is now that we need to accept our lapses without giving in or giving up and go forward determined to be more faithful to the disciplines of Lent right to the end. This is the trial of Lent when 40 days begins to feel like 100 and the Tempter suggests that it is all unnecessary anyway because we are good enough without enduring the self-imposed deprivation! Indeed, we might have been reminded by the gospel on the First Sunday of Lent that if Jesus himself was tempted during his fast of 40 days that we would be unlikely to escape the same before Lent was over. So now is the time to resist the temptation to say we have done enough and to ease up on ourselves. Now is the time to redouble our efforts so as to be able to end Lent with greater control over our appetites so as to have more of our time, energy, and resources to devote to God and to our neighbors in need. Lent may seem to be getting longer, but in actuality, it is a short time until Holy Week when we will naturally try to be and do all that is asked of us during that one week of the year when the Paschal Mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus is our central focus. So let us refasten our spiritual seat belts and continue our plan of self-discipline and self-denial, appreciating that while it may seem so it is really not that much longer before Lent will be over and so we would want to arrive at its finish line having kept our commitments to greater prayer, fasting and charity.

Adult Choir: The Adult choir will be rehearsing for the services of Palm Sunday and Easter and would welcome new members to join this important liturgical ministry. Please contact Donny Nolan after Mass for more information or leave a message for him on the parish line at 508-477-7710

Helping the People of Ukraine: The baskets labeled CNEWA will remain through this weekend and then all that has been collected will be forwarded to the Catholic Near East Welfare Association to assist in that agency’s efforts, started even before the outbreak of the present war, to provide food and refreshment to those in the very troubled regions of Ukraine. The Christ the King Council of the Knights of Columbus has sent a $500 donation to its national headquarters which combined with donations of other councils throughout the United States will be devoted to providing relief to the people in Ukraine in these very dark and difficult days. One-third of the collection on Holy Thursday evening will be given to Catholic Relief Services for its work in Ukraine; this is the collection that represents the resources we have saved because of our efforts at self-denial during Lent. Perhaps our Lenten sacrifices will have greater meaning as we voluntarily give up food or drink in solidarity with the people remaining in Ukraine who must often go without eating because of shortages brought on by the present war.

Palms for the Easter Fire: Beginning next weekend you are welcome to place the dried palm you may still have in your home from Palm Sunday last year in the baskets provided at the entrances to the church which will then be reverently disposed of in the annual Easter Fire on Holy Saturday night; The baskets will be available to collect the dried palm until April 10th.

A Change of Address: Monsignor Ronald Tosti has recently relocated to Maplewood at Mayflower Place, Unit 169, 579 Buck Island Road, West Yarmouth, MA 02673