Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation we are reconciled with God so why not take advantage of the Lenten Penance Services offered in our area?
Confession helps us to get back on the path that God intended for us. The relationship with our Lord is strengthened and we are able to see Christ’s light in our life. The following are Lenten Penance Services that will be taking place at churches in our area:
March 9: St. Mary’s – La Porte
March 15: St. Hyacinth’s – Deer Park
March 22: St. Bernadette’s – ClearLake
March 23: Mary Queen – Friendswood
March 25: St. Paul’s – NassauBay
Handy with a Needle and Thread?
This year's Easter vigil on Saturday, April 3, provides our community the extraordinary experience of celebrating Christ's resurrection for the first time in our new church and welcoming a large number of new Catholics to our beautiful faith. As you know, our new baptismal font allows for the baptism of adults by immersion. This practice, powerful in symbolism and imagery, features the catechumens who will be baptized wearing white garments that are similar to the albs worn by priests. We are in need of volunteers to create a collection of these albs to be worn by the adults who will be baptized. All materials will be provided by the church--we just need the talent to make it happen. If this is an area where you can share the talents God has blessed you with, please contact Heidi Clark.
Has someone recently invited you to Adoration?It is probably the Holy Spirit working through a friend. Why not RSVP with a "yes" by scheduling an hour? You don't have to carry an hour alone - sign-up with a partner or support an existing adorer. All hours are available. Adorers are needed especially for 12 a.m. Wednesday & Thursday, 1 a.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m. Friday, and 4 & 5 p.m. Friday. For more information about Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration or to schedule a weekly hour, please call Malina Wojtkowski at 281.532.2567.
“When you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” – Matthew 6:6
The Inner Room prayer group will meet every Sunday, starting on March 14th, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the Old Chapel. It is free and open to all . The Inner Room is a prayer group dedicated to the kinds of Christian prayer that seek the presence of God “who is in secret.” This prayer is a “gaze of faith” focused on Christ. It emphasizes silence, listening, and seeking God’s presence. It is the simplest, most pre-eminently intense form of prayer. Called “Contemplative” in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (2709-2719), it recognizes that God’s very presence is the “reward” promised by Jesus in Matthew 6:6. We will pray this simple prayer together and support each other in our efforts to integrate contemplation into our daily lives. Please come and seek God’s presence with us. For more information, email or call the Adult Ministry Office at the Church.
*Mass for Hearing Impaired*
As a parish, St. Paul’s staff and volunteers work to minister to all people, regardless of their needs. If you or someone you know would benefit from having Mass interpreted in sign language, we are pleased to offer that ministry. Please contact Heidi Clark at 281.333.3891 ext. 328 to make specific arrangements.
Additionally, we are pleased to offer personal assistive listening devices to individuals who struggle to hear the Mass. Please see the Sound Board Technician prior to Mass to obtain one of these devices.
LENTEN GUIDELINES
The following Lenten guidelines are for all the faithful in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston:
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence. Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence.
Fasting binds all persons who have completed their 18th Birthday through those who have completed their 59th year, unless prevented by poor health. On days of fast, one full meal is allowed. Two other meals, sufficient to maintain strength may be taken according to one’s own needs. Eating between meals is not allowed although fluids may be taken.
Abstinence binds all persons who have completed their 14th birthday, unless prevented by poor health. On days of abstinence, the consumption of meat is not allowed. The Church strongly encourages the observance of Friday abstinence, but failure to do so is not regarded as sinful.
Lent is a penitential season and as such, religious practices such as daily Mass, reception of the Sacrament of Penance, the devotion of the Stations of the Cross, works of charity and justice, and acts of self-denial are highly encouraged.
LENT BEGINS ON ASH WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17
Please bring your palms and place them in the “baskets” located in the narthex or outside of the Chapel. So what happens next? The palms will be burned and used for this year’s ashes on Ash Wednesday. On Ash Wednesday, the ashes are blessed and imposed on the forehead with the sign of the cross. Did you know? The ashes serve as a dual purpose. First, we are reminded of our mortality and humanity as we begin the Lenten Fast. As the priest, deacon or minister puts ashes on our forehead they say, “turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel” (Mark 1:15). Second, the ashes are a Biblical symbol of repentance, sorrow and humility. There are many cases in the Scriptures of wearing ashes as a sign of penitence, often while wearing sackcloth. Originally, Ash Wednesday was the day when public penitents in Rome began their penance. In the early Church, penance was often public. It was only later that private confession and penance began. When public penance gradually fell into disuse by the 8th century, Ash Wednesday became a day of penitence and fasting for all members of the Church. Today, Ash Wednesday is a universal Fast Day in the Catholic Church.
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION? We are in need of Extra Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to assist our Priests and Deacon in serving Holy Communion to the faithful during our weekend Masses, most especially at our 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. Masses. If God is calling you to join this ministry, please call Bill Sebastian, 281 486 8566, for information on training.
MARIAN MOVEMENT OF PRIESTS
Everyone is invited to join the Marian Movement of Priests Devotion every third Friday of the month in the chapel at 7:00 p.m.
The Marian Movement of Priest devotion includes Rosary, Adoration, Litany, Reading and Meditation. It is very appropriate that we pray for our priests especially this Year of the Priests, as proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI. For more information, you may contact Wendy at 281.334.7579 or Susan at 281.480.5027.
“The Year for Priests” Declared
Pope Benedict XVI has declared a “Year for Priests,” which began with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 19, 2009. The year will conclude in Rome with an international gathering of priests with the Holy Father on June 19, 2010. With the announcement of this Year for Priests, the Pope has named St. John Vianney the Universal Patron of Priests on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the death of the Curé d’Ars. Catholics all over the world are called to spend these 12 months lifting up the clergy in prayerful support. One way we plan to mark this special year is in this bulletin where, each week, we will feature a story from a parishioner whose life has been touched in a positive way by the actions of a priest. Imagine…a whole year of good news about priests! If you have a story to share (150 words max), please directit to Heidi Clark at hclark@stpaulcatholic.org.
