Hi everyone,
This Fourth Sunday of Lent brings us face to face with the man born blind in the Gospel of John 9:1-41. Jesus covers this man’s eyes in clay and commands him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. As the man returned to the crowd and people discovered he could see, the Pharisees became indignant and accusatory of Jesus and His healing. They throw the man out of town, but Jesus finds him and in front of the crowd says, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.” This brings forward to us as our contemplation spiritual sight vs spiritual blindness. The man born blind grows in his faith, acknowledging Jesus as a prophet and eventually worshiping him. The Pharisees are shown as spiritually blind.
There have been many wonderful things happening around the parish and I would like to highlight a few of them with a look ahead at what is happening around the bell tower of Sacred Heart. One of these wonderful events was the Saint Faustina Holy Hour. This Holy Hour was sponsored and coordinated by our faithful Knights of Columbus. The night consisted of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, readings and excerpts from the Diary of Saint Faustina, and veneration of relics that included a piece of the habit of Saint Faustina and a relic of the True Cross. I am truly grateful for the hard work and dedication of our Knights.
The school recently put on their annual Literacy Night, where we celebrated and fostered the gift of reading. This is always a fun event that is full of guest readers, visits with therapy dogs, arts & crafts, and facepainting. I had fun visiting with families and reading a few books, I particularly liked making a Tiger stuffed animal and getting my face painted. Thank you to our faithful teachers and parent teacher organization headed by our own Stacy Porter, God bless all that you do!
Sacred Heart also put on our Pre-Cana Day for couples preparing for marriage. The Pre-Cana day begins with a special Mass for those attending and continues with wonderful talks by couples about the Sacrament of Marriage, Natural Family Planning, Theology of the Body, and married life. Thank you to all who lent their valuable time and talent to such a successful day. Remember to keep these men and women in your prayers as they draw closer to the altar of God and the Sacrament of Matrimony.
This week we look forward to the Confirmation Retreat where those who are preparing for this great sacrament are taken deeper into understanding of what it means that the fire of the Holy Spirit descends. I am grateful for the tireless efforts of our Youth Minister Maggie McCarron and her team. This is only a snapshot of what has been going on around the parish, Sacred Heart of Jesus is truly a wonderful place where so many are introduced to and taken deeper in their relationship with Christ.
Fr Joe Labak is doing well and finally at Saint Edwards! He is beginning to get rehabilitation and building his strength so that he can return home to Sacred Heart. Let us continue to offer our prayers, fasting, and acts of mercy for the full return to health of Fr Labak. I ask for your prayers as well as I continue in my role as Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart and Administrator of Saints Peter & Paul. May God continue to keep you all within His holy will!
Pax et Bonum,
Fr Joe Robinson
