Father's weekly message
March 30, 2025, Fourth Sunday of Lent Prayer in the life of Jesus (4)
We continue our reflections on prayer in the life of Jesus. We have seen how Jesus prayed and how he taught his disciples to pray, throughout his life and ministry. This week, let us consider how Jesus hears our prayers and how he prays with us. Reading through the Gospels, we can find many examples to show how Jesus heard the prayers of the people. Everyone who came to Jesus with special needs for healing or other graces prayed to him. In their prayer for mercy and healing, we notice how people expressed their needs. 1. Some, like the blind beggars on the road prayed aloud and cried out from the top of their lungs, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us. The man possessed by the legion of demons cried out “Jesus, Son of God have you come to destroy us? The disciples cried out to Jesus while their boat was sinking due to the heavy weaves and storms, Lord, don’t you care that we are perishing? 2. Others, prayed in silence, like the woman who suffered from hemorrhage for 12 years, the women caught in adultery stood in silence before Jesus and the angry mob that demanded death penalty for her sins. There was a tax-collector who stood in silence and prayed from his heart, Lord, have mercy on me a sinner. The sinful woman who washed the feet of Jesus with her tears and anointed them with costliest perfume, and Mary who sat at the feet of Jesus while her sister Martha worried and busied about herself in serving, 3. There are others who prayed with great faith and Jesus not only appreciates their great faith, but he also grants their requests. Like the Syrophoenician woman who prayed for her daughter’s healing, like the centurion who prayed for his servant’s healing, like the good thief who recognized Jesus’ innocence and the unjust condemnation done to him and the good thief also pleaded for Jesus’ mercy. These and many other examples show us how Jesus promptly heard and answered their prayers. St. Augustine wonderfully summarizes the three dimensions of Jesus’ Prayer: He prays for us as our priest, prays in us as our head, and is prayed to by us as our God. Therefore, let us acknowledge our voice in him and his in us. As we pray our prayers during this lent, let us not rush through prayers, but rather, let us become more and more conscious that when we pray Christ himself prays in us and prays with us, and offers our prayers to the Father. — Fr. Jesu
Announcements for March 30th, 2025
Tendremos un Retiro de Cuaresma en nuestra Parroquia el sábado 29 de marzo de 1:00 a 5:00 pm en español. Complete una tarjeta de confirmación de asistencia y colóquela en la canasta de ofrendas, entréguela a un miembro de hospitalidad o a la oficina de la iglesia. Por favor, consulte el folleto verde en el Narthex para conocer el calendario del retiro.
We will have Lenten Confessions on Wednesday, April 2nd from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. Several priests will be available. Please prepare yourself for a good confession.
Tendremos Confesiones de Cuaresma el miércoles 2 de abril de 6:00 a 7:30 pm. Habrá varios sacerdotes disponibles. Por favor, prepárense para una buena confesión.
We will observe a 24-Hour Adoration beginning First Friday, April 4th with Mass at 8:00 a.m. & ending on First Saturday, April 5th with Mass at 8:00 a.m. Please know when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for adoration, someone must be present; the Eucharist should not be left unattended. Please sign up in the Narthex.
Celebraremos una Adoración de 24 horas, comenzando el primer viernes del 4 de abril con la misa a las 8:00 a. m. y terminando el primer sábado del 5 de abril con la misa a las 8:00 a. m. Tenga en cuenta que cuando se exponga el Santísimo Sacramento para la adoración, es necesaria la presencia de alguien; la Eucaristía no debe quedar desatendida. Por favor, inscríbase en el Nártex.
Our Parish Festival is on Saturday, April 26th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We need your help! Please consider volunteering for the event if only for a few hours. If unable to volunteer, we have several sponsorships available for purchase. We are also in need of canned soft drink donations that can be dropped off at the church office. Raffle tickets are on sale now to win one of three prizes: $1,000, $2,000 & $3,000 to be drawn at the festival. Tickets are available in the church office and through committee members. You do not need to be present to win.
Nuestro Festival Parroquial es el sábado 26 de abril de 10:00 a.m. a 4:00 p.m. ¡Necesitamos tu ayuda! Considere ofrecerse como voluntario para el evento aunque solo sea por unas horas. Si no puede ser voluntario, tenemos varios patrocinios disponibles. También necesitamos donaciones de refrescos enlatados que se puedan dejar en la oficina de la iglesia. Los boletos para la rifa ya están a la venta para ganar uno de los tres premios: $1,000, $2,000 y $3,000 que se sortearán en el festival. Los boletos están disponibles en la oficina de la iglesia y a través de los miembros del comité. No es necesario estar presente para ganar.
The Ladies Guild are asking for donations for the Women’s League garage sale on April 12. Please drop items off at the Food Pantry. No clothes please. Contact Joyce Fleming (512) 786-5967 or Jane Miller (903) 348-5099. Also, all ladies are invited to attend the Ladies Guild meeting today in the Parish Hall after the 9:00 a.m. Mass.
El Ladies Guild está solicitando donaciones para la venta de garaje de la Women's League el 12 de abril. Por favor deje los artículos en la Despensa de Alimentos. Sin ropa, por favor. Comuníquese con Joyce Fleming (512) 786-5967 o Jane Miller (903) 348-5099.
Stations of the Cross begin this Friday, March 7th at 6:00 p.m. with Mass following at 6:45 p.m.
El Via Crucis comienza este viernes 7 de marzo a las 6:00 p.m. con misa a continuación a las 6:45 p.m.
Donations are needed for the Parish Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday! Please leave your candy stuffed plastic eggs in the "Easter Egg Donation Box" in the Narthex or drop them off at the Church office..
¡Se necesitan donaciones para la búsqueda de huevos de Pascua de la parroquia el domingo de Pascua! Deje sus huevos de plástico rellenos de dulces en la "Caja de donación de huevos de Pascua" en el nártex o déjelos en la oficina de la iglesia.
Raffle tickets are on sale now to win one of three prizes: $1,000, $2,000 & $3,000 to be drawn at the festival. Tickets are available in the church office and through committee members. You do not need to be present to win.
Los boletos para la rifa ya están a la venta para ganar uno de los tres premios: $1,000, $2,000 y $3,000 que se sortearán en el festival. Los boletos están disponibles en la oficina de la iglesia y a través de los miembros del comité. No es necesario estar presente para ganar.