Bob Jensen

I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel as more and more of you are returning to church because of your precious vaccination shots.  We are adding another twenty chairs to the sanctuary in line with phase three of the COVID guidelines.  That will bring the total of seats to 145.  We still ask that you wear a mask and practice social distancing between households.

Thanks to the more than 400 of you who have returned your updated information to us.  This helps us to clean up our records regarding addresses, phone numbers and email.  There is still time to return your letter if you haven’t done so already.  It just takes a few minutes and you can return your letter in the business reply envelope that came with your letter or by dropping it by the office or in the collection box.

 

I hope you’ve had an opportunity to focus on the Operation Rice Bowl calendar during this Lenten season. We are invited to study the difference that Catholic Relief Services has made in the countries of Madagascar, El Salvador, and Timor-Leste (one of the newest countries in the world). I was surprised to learn that the Timorese are 98% Catholic. Our generous gift to Operation Rice Bowl as well as the CRS collection helps provide the resources for people thoughout the world to help themselves.  For example Edwin Carlos, a 17 year old living in El Salvador, decided to join a group of 220 students who are learning it is possible to farm while restoring the environment. Like so many others he and his family have started a home vegetable garden which helps cut down on deforestation. Thank you for widening your vision of the world during this time of isolation.

Several members of our community recently entered their names into the Book of the Elect. This event marked their movement from being inquirers regarding the Christian faith and more specifically Catholicism to those who are moving closer to celebrating the Easter sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist. On the third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays of Lent at the 11:30 am mass they will be celebrating the three Scrutinies. In fact at those three masses we will hear the A cycle of readings which include the Woman at the Well, the Man born blind, and the Raising of Lazarus from the Dead. At the other weekend masses we will focus in the B cycle readings. Through the symbols of water, light, and new life the elect are invited to reflect on anything that might come in the way of allowing the presence of Christ Jesus to break forth in their lives. May we hold them in prayer during this time. Not only will the usual Saturday evening Mass be livestreamed on these weekends but the 11:30 am mass as well.

Have a blessed Lent!

 

 

During this Lenten season we are invited to focus on our stewardship of time. How do we balance our work, play, study and prayer? Where does God fit into all these categories? This pandemic of the past eleven months has forced us to reshuffle our priorities. Hopefully our relationships with our families have deepened. Lent would have us strengthen our relationship with God through prayer, the Eucharist (even if it is through live streamed masses,) spiritual reading, and almsgiving.

Time wasted with God is time well-wasted. I hope you have taken the time to peruse our parish faith formation newsletter. It contains something for everyone. I appreciate the creativity of our pastoral staff and parishioners who make this happen. May we use our time in such a way that gives God the praise, the honor, and the glory.

I was saddened to learn of the death of Clint Peterson on Thursday, February 11th. The preceding Tuesday Clint fell after taking out the garbage at the rear of the house. His head landed on the pavement and he never regained consciousness. He and his wife Judy were founding members of our parish community. They were married sixty and a half years. They had seven children, 25 grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren. Clint was an electrician by trade and assisted the parish when it needed help with its buildings. He and Judy helped the parish establish a Saint Vincent de Paul Conference. They were involved with Marriage Encounter, Pregnancy Aid, and were extremely generous in various donations to St. John’s. I personally will really miss his quiet presence among us. His memorial mass was this past Tuesday. May Clint rest in the peace of Christ.