Dear Parishioners, This Sunday, we welcome our 9th grade confirmation students to the Rite of Entrance as their parents formally present them to me for approval. This year, we have sixty-two ninth graders in our program and I must say they have been very good at attending classes and have great interaction in a socially distant setting. Several of our young people are involved in the God Squad group and many of their parents come to church on a regular basis. It is so very important that a young person has the support of their parent as they prepare for the sacraments of Initiation. It is encouraging to see a young person, though not supported by a parent, willing to make the time to grow in faith by attending mass on their own and striving to build their own relationship with God. Each couple as they come together to celebrate the sacrament of marriage make a sacred vow to baptize their children and pass on the Catholic faith to them. In the busy world in which we live, it can be difficult to come to weekly mass. However, that gift is a gift that lasts a lifetime and gives the child the joy of being close to God in good times and bad times alike. So, ninth grade moms and dads keep up the good work. In years to come, your child will be an active Catholic and enjoy the gift of our beautiful faith and the ability to pass on that faith for generations to come. A big thank you to our wonderful catechists who with great devotion give their time to teach our ninth graders and share their own story of faith with them on a personal and beautiful level. Wednesday, the 3rd of February will be the Feast of St. Blaise. Traditionally, this is a day when Catholics come to have their throats blessed. The priest places two candles at the throat of each person, a red ribbon connects the two candles forming a “V” around the throat of the person to be blessed. This reminds us that through the intercession of St. Blaise, we ask to be protected from all illness of the throat and every other illness. This year because of COVID, Fr. Hubert and I will perform the Rite of Blessing at the end of every mass from a distance and give a group blessing. We will bless the throats on the weekend of January 30-31 and again, for those who come to mass on the Feast day, Wednesday, February 3rd. This age-old tradition reminds us of the need to ask God for the blessings and strength to combat illness. Certainly, during this year of COVID, we can use all the blessings we can get. As you are aware, last Sunday I mentioned that we will have a mini fundraiser this weekend. Members of our Parish Council will be available after each mass to sell beautiful St. Luke monogrammed masks. This mask has the name of our parish and I thought it might be a good way to evangelize and at the same time, make a little extra money to put towards the chemical cleaning of our church. Additionally, the masks will be available for sale in the office Monday through Friday. We will offer the masks that are left over from the sale this weekend on the weekend of January 30-31 as well. Please consider wearing your mask to school, work or the supermarket as a great reminder that we at St. Luke are a welcoming loving Catholic community open for business and doing the work of the Lord. I wish each of you a peaceful and Christ centered week and let us continue to pray that we, as Americans will work together for the good of our country, for peace in our country and peace in the world. God bless America.