Happy February! As usual, Christmas comes and boy does it go! Today is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, 40 days after Christmas. It is a beautiful feast and it is also, for many, the end of the Christmas season. I would like to thank you for being part of our Christmas celebrations and my first Christmas as your administrator. It is certainly one I will never forget.
Last Friday, over 180 members of our parish gathered for a fun-filled trivia night! It was great to gather once again post-covid shutdown.
Last Saturday, I once again gathered all our ministry heads for a meeting and a thank-you lunch for all their hard work. They are committed to making Jesus Christ known and do it so well. We are in the planning stages for the upcoming parish phase of the National Eucharistic Revival which begins on Sunday, June 11th, Corpus Christi. The Revival is a grassroots movement of Catholics, each responding to the gift of the Eucharist in their own way, we must respond too! At the meeting, I identified the three pillars which will be our focus moving forward: Education, Conversation, & Conversion. The focus of all our ministries next year from Religious Education to Bible Study, will be the Eucharist. This is not a new program, but will be moments of encounter. It is absolutely imperative the Church, once again, focuses on this greatest gift Jesus left us, His Body and Blood. Just one-third of U.S. Catholics agree that the Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ! One-third! It is time, once again, to learn about the gift of the Eucharist, enter into conversation about this gift, and allow the graces to lead us to a conversion in Christ.
I am sure you have seen our beautiful new parish sign in honor of our 175th Anniversary celebration. Thank you to everyone who donated! Our next phase will include a sign for our Chapel of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Parish Center/Offices, and Rectory. The final phase will include the Spiritual Formation Center, Our Lady of Hope House and the Convent. A day does not go by where someone needs to be directed to the chapel, offices, convent, etc. Not only will this add to the beauty of our campus, but it will also assist those coming to our campus! If anyone would like to assist us in raising the funds for these matching signs, please call the parish office or place an envelope in the collection basket labeled “Parish Signs”. Thank you!
You should have received a letter from Bishop Checchio this past week regarding the launch of the 2023 Bishop Annual Appeal. Please read the brochure. The appeal helps St. Magdalen’s directly! We receive funds from Catholic Charities which assists us in assisting others through our Hope House, we have two men studying for the priesthood from our parish, and we have two priests here that serve as hospital chaplains. Three ministries that receive funds from the annual appeal. Our parish goal is $158,000. If we come together as a community, I believe we can reach our goal! No amount is too small! Please consider donating this year!
On Saturday, February 11th we celebrate the World Day of Prayer for the Sick and the Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes. The 8:00 a.m. Mass will move to 10:00 a.m. and the priests of your parish will celebrate the Anointing of the Sick within Mass for all those who would like to receive this beautiful sacrament. Anointing should be received by anyone struggling with any physical, psychological, or spiritual illness - and by anyone who is of advanced age.
Wednesday, February 22nd is Ash Wednesday. Mark your calendars as we begin this solemn season: 8:00 a.m. Mass, 12 Noon Mass, 4:00 p.m. Evening Prayer with distribution of Ashes, 7:00 p.m. Mass.