Dear Parishioners, Fr. Alex and I had a wonderful mini vacation in Cooperstown and despite the many closures, we got to see the National Baseball Hall of Fame and had lovely walks around the quaint, charming town. The lake naturally was covered in snow and ice, but we drove around it and enjoyed the wonderful scenery. For me, The Shrine of the First American Martyrs and the Shrine of St. Kateri Tekakwitha were a wonderful reminder of our wonderful American Catholic history. St. Kateri Tekakwitha was a convert and lived in the mid 1600s. She was also a catechist and even though suffering very ill health lived an inspiring life. The Jesuit martyrs in the 1600s learned the local languages and though martyred by a warring Native American tribe proclaimed the faith boldly and with great compassion. I cannot even imagine how remote that area was more than 400 years ago and the courage, the early settlers and the early converts needed to live out their Catholic faith. I encourage you to google the history of these two shrines and gain an insight into the strength necessary to be a Catholic in North America in this century. As you are aware, we had four wonderful couples speak at our masses last weekend. A big thank you to Phil and Barb, Deacon Ray and Leslie, Pete and Jean, Pete and Colleen for their inspiring talks on marriage and for helping us learn from their living of this beautiful sacrament. A big thank you to Scott O’Neill for organizing and preparing the scouts to celebrate a beautiful Scouts’ mass last Sunday. Michael, Luke, Sean and Chris did a great job with the readings and the Prayers of the Faithful and made us all very proud. I am thrilled that we are able to host the scouts’ meetings here at the parish and I always welcome scouts and cubs to consider St. Luke their meeting home away from home. Last Wednesday was a different Ash Wednesday in that I sprinkled the ashes rather than putting them on the forehead to avoid cross-contamination. Nonetheless, as we live this first weekend of Lent, I invite you as family to make a decision on the family sacrifice you have chosen. A big thanks to everybody who on a regular basis bring in non-perishables to our parish. However, I would invite you as I had previously mentioned, to save money during Lent so that we can provide a substantial cash gift to provide for the basics for our less fortunate brothers and sisters of Christ. During this Lenten season I encourage every parishioner to go to confession. As in previous years, confession will be held in every parish in Morris, Sussex and Passaic counties every Monday from 7-8:30 p.m. until Holy Week. I will hear confessions in the chapel, and I ask those who are waiting for confession and those who are praying their Act of Penance afterwards in the church to keep social distance. On Wednesday, March 10th, Fr. Hubert, Fr. Alex and Fr. Mike will be here to assist me to hear confessions from 6-9:00 p.m. It is very important that families make time whether Monday evenings or Wednesday, March 10th to receive this sacrament and prepare our hearts and souls for the Easter season. Through the generosity of parishioners, our parish has been given a subscription to an online Catholic App which provides resources for catechesis, reflection and opportunities to grow in faith. Maureen and I are presently working on how to best to use this program for CCD and Confirmation. This wonderful spiritual tool has something for every age group. This weekend, we will preview it at all masses, and we look forward to welcoming you onboard “Formed.” The details on how to join are inside. Father Owen