Dear Parishioners,
 
Lent is flying by.  It is hard to believe that next weekend is Palm Sunday, and I am happy to tell you that we will have a
regular mass schedule and that this year, we will be able to distribute blessed palm.  Please see the Holy Week and Easter schedule in the bulletin and online.  Thank God the snow has now vanished and so, we will be able to have our sunrise mass by the outdoor chapel at 6:30 am Easter morning.
 
Just be aware this Monday, the 22^nd is the last Monday night confession and Saturday, the 27^th will be our last confession until after Easter.  On Sunday, April 11^th, Divine Mercy Sunday, Deacon Ray will preside at the Divine Mercy holy hour from 2:15-3:15 pm.  During that time, I will be available in the chapel for confessions. 
 
I have been so glad to see so many parishioners who are now vaccinated, feeling safe, and returning to church.  I know there
are many people who are still apprehensive and sheltering at home and are appreciative of our live-stream mass helping them to stay connected with our church.  For those who are courageous and feel it is time to come back to mass, please know that at most masses, our average attendance is between 90 and 180 per mass except the 7:30 am Sunday mass which averages 26 and 33.  So if you are thinking of easing back into attending mass, 7:30 am mass would be a good choice. 
Please remember our church is chemically sanitized and socially distanced. 
 
It was a pleasure to concelebrate mass with Fr. Mike last Sunday at the 11:30 am mass as we celebrated his birthday. 
I was delighted to share a celebratory meal with him at the Chesapeake Bay and was happy to see he is enjoying his
 retirement and still is a welcoming part of our beloved St. Luke which has been and will always be a large part of his life. 
 
Fr. Mike, Deacon Ray and I were happy to welcome the Girl Scouts.  The girls were wonderful greeters and readers.  A big thanks to Jen Meehan who worked so hard on preparing them.
 
I offer our prayers to Eleanor, Maureen and the extended O’Brien family upon the death of Larry.  Larry was a strong faithful Catholic man, and it was my pleasure to be his priest for the past year and half and to prepare him for eternal life.  I will
preside at Larry’s funeral mass, here at 10 am on June 26^th.  Please keep the O’Brien family in your prayers during these days.
 
As you are aware, Kevin Cleary has begun a new path in life and entered into a civil marriage with Deb Cortale on
October 3, 2020.  They now reside in Red Bank.  While he no longer serves as a deacon, we are very grateful to the many years of service he has given to our parish.  I have invited Kevin and Deb to come to the 5 pm mass on April 10^th . 
Please join us so that together we can show our appreciation for his many years of service, love and guidance.
 
A big thank you to Ann Casey, my adopted mother and new parishioner who has donated the beautiful St. Joseph statue
to our parish in loving memory of Joseph F. Casey, Agnes V. Murphy Casey and John J. Farrell.  
 
As you will notice, our statues are now covered with a purple cloth, as we begin this time of intense preparation for Holy Week and as we remember and re-live Jesus’ painful death and glorious resurrection. 
 

Fr. Owen