THIS WEEK
- LENT AT ST GABRIEL
- Prayer: Stations of the Cross, Lenten Mission Talks
- Fasting: Fish Fry
- Almsgiving: Service Saturday & Outreach Fund
- Collection for Streetside Showers, March 5-18
- Grief Support Group, Mar. 19, 7:00 PM
- Pastoral Care for the Sick Mass, Mar. 19, 6:00 PM
- Marian Shrines Pilgrimage Informational Meeting, Mar. 20, 7:00 PM
- No Early Childhood Programs Mar. 15/16 and 22/23
COMING UP
- Job Opening: Facilities & Safety Assistant
- Women's Club Game Day - Tickets now available!
FROM FR. EUGENE
Dear Parish Family,
I hope your Lenten journey is underway as expected. On Ash Wednesday, our parish, like others across the diocese, was busy attending to the faithful with the sacraments and the imposition of the Ashes. Every Ash Wednesday seems to have some magic to it! It always amazes me how the parking lots burst to the seams. Except that it would be considered simony (charging money for sacramentals), l had planned to put in place a Drive Thru for Ashes for just five dollars per person. I will probably not ask for much help with Capital Campaign after two Ash Wednesday collections. But I am pretty sure the bishop will come after me, if I did! :)
I wonder where all these people come from and where they disappear to after Ash Wednesday. How come we don’t get similar attendance in the weeks after? Surely, we do have a lot of Grassroot Evangelization to do! I believe some of them are our friends and members of our families or people we know. Kindly keep inviting them to Mass and other church events. You can make this your Lenten goal!
The holy season of Lent is a time of grace, when we pray that our self-denial should give thanks to God, humble our sinful pride, contribute to the feeding of the poor, and imitate God in his kindness (Preface for Lent). Do not let this season of grace pass you by without reflection and participation in parish-wide events and activities. Convenient Discipleship is an oxymoron. Your presence and participation in parish life could be an inspiration and motivation for others. You cannot practice your faith alone; we must accompany each other.
I hope your Lenten journey is underway as expected. On Ash Wednesday, our parish, like others across the diocese, was busy attending to the faithful with the sacraments and the imposition of the Ashes. Every Ash Wednesday seems to have some magic to it! It always amazes me how the parking lots burst to the seams. Except that it would be considered simony (charging money for sacramentals), l had planned to put in place a Drive Thru for Ashes for just five dollars per person. I will probably not ask for much help with Capital Campaign after two Ash Wednesday collections. But I am pretty sure the bishop will come after me, if I did! :)
I wonder where all these people come from and where they disappear to after Ash Wednesday. How come we don’t get similar attendance in the weeks after? Surely, we do have a lot of Grassroot Evangelization to do! I believe some of them are our friends and members of our families or people we know. Kindly keep inviting them to Mass and other church events. You can make this your Lenten goal!
The holy season of Lent is a time of grace, when we pray that our self-denial should give thanks to God, humble our sinful pride, contribute to the feeding of the poor, and imitate God in his kindness (Preface for Lent). Do not let this season of grace pass you by without reflection and participation in parish-wide events and activities. Convenient Discipleship is an oxymoron. Your presence and participation in parish life could be an inspiration and motivation for others. You cannot practice your faith alone; we must accompany each other.
I hope you were able to attend our parish’s Lenten Mission presented by the Franciscan Friars of the Holy Spirit, courtesy of Fr. Antony Tinker and Brother Basil. We truly appreciate their ministry among us these few days. The presentations, talks and spiritual guidance are invaluable! You can watch (or rewatch the videos from the mission a littler further down).
As you know, 2025 is the Jubilee Year of Hope, as the church marks the 2,025th anniversary of the Incarnation of our Lord, an event of great spiritual, ecclesial, and social significance in the life of the Church. It’s a special year of reconciliation, pilgrimage, and coming home. Pope Francis has designated the 2025 Holy Year as a time to renew ourselves as "Pilgrims of Hope." Hope is creative and interactive.
This virtue inspires human activities and purifies them so as to order them to the Kingdom of heaven; it keeps man from discouragement; it sustains him during times of abandonment; it opens up his heart in expectation of eternal beatitude. Buoyed up by hope, he is preserved from selfishness and led to the happiness that flows from charity. (CCC 1818)
In this Jubilee Year of Hope, we have an opportunity to pray and show our solidarity for people who are struggling with mental or physical illness. I invite you to join us for a Pastoral Care Mass on Wednesday, March 19th at 6:00pm. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the sick will be offered to Catholics in need. Please encourage those who may be able to attend. Our Pastoral Care Team may assist with accommodations so that care may be extended to the home bound.
As Pilgrims of Hope, let us spend time and pray with those suffering from mental or physical illnesses. In union with those suffer, let us reflect on the mystery of suffering and human condition, with the light of faith. Like the Good Samaritan, let us stop at the suffering of our neighbors to have some compassion and give some help (Pope St. John Paul II, Salvifici Doloris).
Blessings,
Fr. Eugene
In this Jubilee Year of Hope, we have an opportunity to pray and show our solidarity for people who are struggling with mental or physical illness. I invite you to join us for a Pastoral Care Mass on Wednesday, March 19th at 6:00pm. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the sick will be offered to Catholics in need. Please encourage those who may be able to attend. Our Pastoral Care Team may assist with accommodations so that care may be extended to the home bound.
As Pilgrims of Hope, let us spend time and pray with those suffering from mental or physical illnesses. In union with those suffer, let us reflect on the mystery of suffering and human condition, with the light of faith. Like the Good Samaritan, let us stop at the suffering of our neighbors to have some compassion and give some help (Pope St. John Paul II, Salvifici Doloris).
Blessings,
Fr. Eugene
LENT AT ST GABRIEL
March 10-12
Lenten Fridays
Service Saturdays
As part of your almsgiving, we have several Service Saturdays, half-days of outreach where we serve the poorest of the poor in the spirit of Mother Teresa.
We begin with fellowship, prayer, and orientation, then you can choose from various service projects, such as:
We begin with fellowship, prayer, and orientation, then you can choose from various service projects, such as:
- Comforting the elderly at nursing homes
- Feeding the homeless on the streets
- Assisting a local non-profit
- Staying at the parish to make care packages for the homeless
After serving, some participants continue the fellowship by grabbing lunch together (optional). All ages are welcome, though minors must be accompanied by a parent. As Mother Teresa said, “Let us do something beautiful for God.”
Outreach Fund: Another Way to Give
Another way to practice almsgiving this Lent is by supporting the St. Gabriel Outreach Fund, which provides financial aid to Community Collaborators—local organizations that align with our Catholic mission to serve the "least of these." Through this collaboration our parish extends its reach by both supporting these organizations financially and encouraging parishioners to volunteer. Last year, over $50,000 was distributed to help those in need. Your generosity makes a real impact!
Did you miss a night of the Mission?
Below are the talks given by Fr. Antony and the beautiful meditation he prayed on Monday night as well as the healing prayer to conclude the mission.
COLLECTION FOR STREETSIDE SHOWERS
March 5-18
FIND SUPPORT AND CARE
March 19, 7:00 PM
HEALING MASS WITH ANOINTING OF THE SICK
March 19, 6:00 PM
INFORMATIONAL MEETING
Thursday, Mar. 20, 7:00 PM
Interested in this trip? Want to learn more? Fr. Eugene is hosting an Informational Session on Thursday, March 20th at 7:00 PM in the St. Mary’s room in the Bishop Kelly Center. No RSVP needed, just come if you want to learn more about the pilgrimage.
WE'RE HIRING
Facility and Safety Assistant
Our Facility Assistant supports our mission to make disciples by assisting our efforts to ensure our space, both indoors and outdoors, facilitates encounters with one another and with Jesus. This responsibility includes the maintenance and repair of facilities to ensure they are inviting and well-maintained for staff and parishioners.
Please send cover letters and resumes to HR@stgabriel.org.
Please send cover letters and resumes to HR@stgabriel.org.
WOMEN'S CLUB GAME DAY - TICKETS ON SALE
April 25, 10 AM - 2 PM
HOW TO JOIN THE FUN
1. Find a group to play your game
ex: 4 players for Bridge or 2-8 players for Mexican train, etc.
2. Buy your $35 ticket in advance and register your group
Questions? Contact Jean Possehl, jpossehl@sbcglobal.net or Sharon Gillespie, sharon.gillispie@gmail.com
We hope this week was full of hope and healing as we continued through Lent and entered into another powerful Lenten Mission. We look forward to seeing you at Mass.
St Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Community
972-542-7170