The Pastor's Pen

 

March 19,2023, Fourth Sunday of Lent

The Fourth Sunday of Lent is the 22nd day of the 40, 18 remain until the Sacred Triduum!

Laetare Sunday: -Rejoice Jerusalem! This imperative found in the Latin Introit for today’s Mass gives the Fourth Sunday of Lent its traditional name. It is a day to rejoice because Lent is now slightly more than half over and thus soon the penitential season will yield to the 50 day season of rejoicing which is Easter. Yet we may find ourselves saying,” wait not so fast !” Indeed, today is a good day to take stock of how seriously we have been embracing the disciplines of prayer and the fasting which enables us to accumulate alms to share with the poor when Lent ends on the evening of Holy Thursday. So perhaps today is a good day to renew our resolve and redouble our efforts to live a Lent that is both meaningful for us and fruitful for those in need!

Matthew 25 Fund: Along with the poor in the Village of El Tablon in Guatemala, and the many served throughout the world by Catholic Relief Services, those in need in our own local community are destined to also be blessed by the alms we store up through our self- denial during Lent. Here in our parish we have a special fund called Matthew 25 into which any donations given for the relief of the poor are placed. Sometimes we hear the question asked what does the Matthew 25 Fund actually do? First and foremost, MT25 , it is the main support for the weekly food pantry sponsored by the parish and managed by the local conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. As a tally for the past year reveals $71,510 was allotted to the Christ the King Food pantry by the MT25 Fund in 2022. MT25 is also the major funding source for the Financial and Resources Assistance Ministry of the parish which provides financial help to those who struggle to make ends meet with costs of housing, utilities, transportation and other basic essentials. At the conclusion of 2022, MT25 had given $48,368 to relieve the poor of the greater Mashpee area for whom we as a parish are responsible. Numerous people are just one rent or mortgage payment away from the street, or one car repair or utility payment away from being broke for the rest of a month. Many of these people are the working poor whose pay checks can’t keep up with the inflated costs of living and it is these people to whose aid we come through these important charitable works . Yet perhaps it is to our own aid that we ultimately come, as through our generosity to others we pay it forward for ourselves as through charity we invest in an unseen future beyond the limits of the present world. So please, be mindful of all who could be blessed by the alms we give at Mass when Lent ends on Holy Thursday evening and perhaps rethink the purchase of an expensive bottle of wine or liquor or the cost of enjoying an evening out at any restaurant in the Commons or elsewhere during Lent. It is by our willingness to “die” in union with Christ through acts of self-denial that new life can come to others in need in very practical ways now, and later with a capital “L” for us!

Boys ECHO: After two years without 3 day retreats, the ECHO Program is up and running again having just completed a Girls Weekend on March 3,4thand 5th and now hosting a Boy’s Weekend on March 31st to April 2nd. ECHO is a long standing spiritual program on Cape Cod for young people, having been in existence now for 52 years from which thousands have benefitted. All young men of the parish, who are already Confirmed are encouraged to take advantage of this unique opportunity to encounter Christ in a special weekend of prayer, learning and sharing in an atmosphere of tremendous love and support. Please visit the ECHO Facebook page for further information; scholarships are provided by the parish for the $175 cost of the program for all members who wish to participate.

Adult Enrichment: WHY DO WE WORSHIP? – Video presentations by Dr. Brant Pitre – Sundays from 9:30 to 10:20 AM, or Sunday evenings from 6:30 to 7:20PM. Come learn the answers to questions you may not have ever asked but probably should have!

Stations and a Simple Supper: Friday, March 31st Stations at 5PM in the main church, followed by a simple meatless penitential supper in the parish hall. The idea of meatless Fridays during Lent is so that on these days we will all be doing penance together and find solidarity in that. , So join us for this traditional Lenten devotion to the Lord’s Passion followed by soup, salad, bread and Jell-O served in the parish hall. A free will offering will be accepted that should consider the cost of the food plus something more to benefit the poor who will be blessed through our Lenten almsgiving.