Each week during Lent, you will find a new set of Meditations for the Lenten season posted here.

Second week of Lent.

2^nd Sunday of Lent (Cycle B)
February 27-28, 2021
Gospel:  Mark 9: 2-10

I once read these powerful words… 

Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light,not our darkness that most frightens us.  We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?  Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God…We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.  It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone.  And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” 

Transfiguration happens when some inner quality or hidden potential of a person comes to light.  And when those persons allow that true potential to come to light, they are transformed, they show their “true colors”.

The readings from Genesis and Mark present two stories of transfiguration.  Abraham is put through a test of faith and is transformed from being a mere shepherd to becoming the father of a great nation.  Jesus is transfigured before the eyes of three of His disciples from being merely an itinerant preacher to being the Savior of the World.  These readings and this season of Lent offer us an invitation to also accept the test of faith and become transformed into the person we are meant to be.  Lent is the opportunity to address the ILLUSIONS which we all have. 

Jesus climbed the mountain to pray and his prayer was so intense that his destiny became visible.  As Jesus prays, he experiences a further inner assurance of who he was meant to be.  His face glowed with a new realization that his ascent to the Mount of Transfiguration was indeed a saving action.  He will, of necessity, die in Jerusalem, but that will not be the final word.  Passion, crucifixion and death are but a part of the scenario.  Resurrection is the final word.  And that word belongs to God.

As usual, that insight eludes the three disciples, and also as usual, Peter puts his foot in his mouth, saying, “Let’s set up camp, let’s stay on this mountain.”  Peter may have been impetuous, but he was not stupid.  He, no doubt, recalled Jesus’ words that anyone who loses his life will save it; that followers of Jesus must carry their cross; that Jesus himself will be killed.  Knowing all that, why leave the “awesome” mountain? 

But the message of the transfiguration was not to settle in …but to move on.

The Voice of God says from the cloud, “This is my chosen Son, listen to him.”  LISTEN?  It is not sufficient to experience the glory of God on the mountain.  We must come down, continue our journey of faith and accept our destiny.  IF we listen to Jesus, we WILL hear again the prediction of his passion and crucifixion.  To LISTEN to Jesus is to embrace suffering and death.  But to LISTEN to Jesus is ALSO to experience Easter. 

In these remaining days of Lent, let us embrace the message of the Transfiguration to move on...  Let us delve into our inner selves, recognize the ILLUSIONS present and embrace the person we were meant to be.  When we let our light shine, then Jesus will reveal the Glory of God on Easter. 

Until then … let us break bread and bless the cup.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new PAC took place on Sunday, February 22nd after the 11am mass. The event was broadcast live on Facebook, and you can access the video at the link below.

Groundbreaking Video

Each week during Lent, you will find a new set of Meditations for the Lenten season posted here.

First week of Lent

Join your parish—and more than 12,000 Catholic communities across the United States—in a life-changing Lenten journey with @CatholicReliefServices Rice Bowl. During these 40 days of Lent, we will reflect on how hunger and malnutrition affect our human family, and on the need to take action to end this global injustice. Visit crsricebowl.org to learn more. To learn more about the Rice Bowl program from our own @CatholicArchLou CRS Global Fellow, Deacon Scott Haner, see
https://youtu.be/FCWtHrYt0zM. #CRSRiceBowl

February 17, 2021
Ash Wednesday

Greetings and welcome to the “doorstep” to the Lenten Season 2021!  I hope this finds you well and warm.  There are a few things that I would like to share with you today.

First, we are days away from the Groundbreaking Ceremony for our new Parish Activity Center (as well as renovations of the old parish hall).  Archbishop Kurtz is scheduled to be here for the 11AM mass and then ceremonies will follow.  We are in hopes that this short ceremony will be made available to everyone through Facebook and our website.  Come celebrate what you have achieved!  It has been five years in the making and now we want to plant the seeds of this building and give God thanks for all that He makes possible.

Secondly, please say a prayer for the Selection Committee (as always, all three non-parishioners) for The Pat French Scholarship recipient.  The committee has their work cut out for them in selecting the 2021 recipient.  Five of our high school seniors have applied and all are very quality individuals who have exceedingly bright futures in whatever each hopes to become.  These are the candidates in alphabetical order: Aeron Adams, Madelyn Clan, Bryce Clements, Grace McCarter and Pierce Williams.  I know that you may know any one of them well and you can see what I mean when saying, the best of the best have surfaced.  Beyond the scholarship, please keep them in prayer as they come closer to graduation and future studies this spring.  We are all the better for having them in our faith family… always.

Thirdly, an anonymous donor has purchased over 100 copies of a book entitled “Trouble with Lent: The Adventures of Nick and Sam” by Paul McCusker, This Augustine Institute publication is written for young people of middle and late grade school age.  ANY of our young people are welcomed to a FREE copy of this book.  Please let the office know so that a copy can be obtained.  As stated on the back of the book, “Giving up chocolate and hamburgers are only part of the trouble as Sam becomes her class contestant in the school spelling bee and Nick gets distracted by a new friend who is determined to find a Big Foot creature.  Three are temptations to be fought, lessons to be learned, and danger on the ice in this fun and touching lead-up to Easter Sunday.”  Reserve your copy today!!

Fourthly, we have found a new Pastoral Associate.  Her name is Paula Silliman and she will be coming to us as she completes her work as the Pastoral Associate from St. Ignatius Parish.  Paula, her husband Ben and their children are parishioners of St. Gabriel Parish and we will welcome Paula on March 1^st!  God has answered our prayers for this key role in parish leadership. Welcome Paula!

Lastly, thanks again for all your fine stewardship in Time, Talent and Treasure. As a reminder, please return your Stewardship Intention Cards as soon as possible and thanks to all 147 of 850 who have already done so…  

In a prayerful Lenten Season,

Father Dale

Below are links to the live presentation of the Town Hall meeting on Sunday, February 7th, as well as the slides that were presented.

Video of Live Presentation

Town Hall presentation in PDF format

For convenience, religious education parents can now pay their child(ren)’s student fees online. By clicking on the link below, it will take you to the different fees and walk you through processing your credit or debit card. We appreciate your help in offsetting curriculum and classroom fees, and look forward to having your child(ren) in our program!

Click here to pay RE Fees.

Blessings,
Darlene

Check out the latest release of the Crossroads Messenger!