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Dear Parishioners,
As I have mentioned several times, this Tuesday, April 5th we have multiple priests to help with our Lenten confessions. I have invited Fr. Mike, Fr. Alex, Fr. Anton, and Fr. Kirwin to join Fr. Hubert and me with confessions. I have asked a lot of priests to support us so it will be a fast flow of people. We will be in the church from 6 pm until 8:30 pm and I encourage individuals or families to come before or after dinner for confession. Because of COVID many people have not been to confession for many years and even though we had outdoor confessions, many were sheltering. It is particularly important that parents teach their children the importance of this sacrament, to carve out a little time and come and bring their children with them. Often, we as priests hear of a long absence of time between confessions because the parent or parents for whatever reason did not prioritize the time. In a very busy world, sometimes people will say, I am too busy for God, but we always make time for what is important, and God definitely comes first. When we make time for God, we live a more God-centered life, giving us the grace and peace, we need to cope with many issues and at the same time be the person, be it a parent or a grandparent, be it a child, be it a priest that God calls us to be. This coming, Monday, April 4th, is the last Monday that a priest will be available for confessions from 7 until 8:30 pm. The following Monday, April 11th, we will join our Bishop for the Chrism Mass.
We are gearing up for a wonderful experience the weekend of April 22-24th. St. Luke shares Antioch with St. Lawrence and this time around, the retreat will be held at St. Lawrence Church. We encourage teens from 10th to 12th grade to consider coming on this retreat. During the weekend, our team leadership kids will give talks for the candidates. Following the talk, there will be time for discussion and prayer. The retreat includes Masses, confessions, and time to just reflect upon God’s love and how God calls each teen by name to make a difference in the world.
It has been a pleasure to hear the stories of moms of little ones receiving a safe place to live through the generosity of Several Sources. We will have our Lenten collection for Several Sources next weekend, Palm Sunday weekend and look forward to being able to support this wonderful endeavor.
You will have noticed in the narthex a giving tree with cute little Easter tags. These tags help to provide something special for the children and families living in the Washington Township area. Please take a tag and return it by the date on the tag.
Because of COVID, our Special Needs family have been unable to go to Lourdes. This year, Joe McGovern has come up with “Day in Lourdes”, here at St. Luke parish. Immediately following the 11:30 am Mass on May 1st, our Special Needs Ministry will have an enactment of the Lourdes experience and will move from the church to the outdoor area where they will help us tell the story. We then conclude in the church. This should be a beautiful moving experience and I invite all our parishioners to spend time with us on that day as together we relive our Blessed Mother’s visit to the children of Lourdes and the miracle of the waters. Please RSVP by email to MaryJo at stlukeparishsnm@gmail.com so we will have enough Lourdes water for everybody.
On Tuesday, March 22nd, we began our first Moms and Tots ministry. I invite Moms with little ones to come to the 9 am Mass on Tuesdays with their little ones and after Mass, to meet in the former chapel for prayer and fellowship. Volunteers are needed to help with this ministry. If you can help, please contact Claudia at claudiamg101@icloud.com.
Fr. Owen