The Church brings the Christmas Season to a close this weekend with the celebration of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. This Monday we enter Ordinary Time. Keep in mind that “Ordinary” does not mean boring or dull or un-special; rather, it’s called “ordinary” because it comes from the Latin word “ordo” which means “counted.” So, since there are no particular mysteries or feasts being observed, such as we have been celebrating, we are beginning now to count the Sundays, beginning next Sunday with the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. We’ll continue in Ordinary Time until we enter the sacred season of Lent, which starts with Ash Wednesday on March 6th; March 10th is the First Sunday of Lent. After our journey through Lent (40 days), Holy Week, and the Easter Season (50 days), we return to Ordinary Time on June 30th, the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Isn’t this amazing? In God’s calendar, every day, week and season is filled with meaning. Praise the Lord.
This Monday, January 14th, we have the opportunity to make the first day of the First Week in Ordinary Time even more special than it already is by spending some time in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament in the Friars Chapel any time between 12 noon and 7:00 p.m. Please note the insert in this week’s bulletin. We need more individuals to commit to spending 30 minutes or an hour sometime during the day, so that we can continue making this adoration time available. Did you know that if there is no one present, we may not expose the Sacrament in this special way? Stop and think, 30 minutes a month in the year 2019 can make this calendar year even more grace-filled for you than it already is. You can bring your own prayer book or rosary or spiritual reading or use one of the prayer materials available. Or you can simply give yourself the gift of a peaceful, quiet time in the midst of the hubbub of your busy life, to sit in the presence of our loving Lord. If you can make a commitment, won’t you contact coordinator Nancy Miller at 242-6572? Of course, you are welcome to stop in any time during those hours to pray, even if you have not signed up.
At 7:00 p.m. we have a short time of Eucharistic devotion and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament for those who wish to participate.
I defer now to our Franciscan Guardian (Minister) Fr. Frank Jasper, OFM.
FROM FR. FRANK AND THE FRANCISCANS
Special thanks to all of you who have sent cards, gifts and greetings to the friars. Some of them were given anonymously and so we are not sure who to thank. So, one great big THANKS to all of you for your kindness. We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that the Lord will grace you with many blessings in 2019.