Whatever practices we’ve undertaken during these Lenten days...our prayer, fasting, & almsgiving, shouldn’t they be practices that are going to intentionally help us to be a more loving, caring, compassionate disciple of Jesus Christ? They should.

I know that over the past month or so, you’ve been hearing about some of the upcoming changes that we’re looking at around both parishes, especially when it comes to our Masses. It’s not easy to think about change, is it?

  This week we begin our Lenten journey as Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day. So many will use Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to express their love to someone significant in their life in ways such as buying flowers or chocolates or sharing a meal together.

Over the next two weeks we will have two opportunities to experience the Eucharist in action. Certainly we will experience the Eucharist in action in our celebrations of the Mass as we receive Jesus; Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

Last week I began to share some of the plan & the vision for where we are going, specifically with the Mass schedule. As I mentioned last week, please know how much love & devotion I know that you have for the Mass & that I have as well. I know that talking about reducing Masses is not an easy conversation to have.

As we enter into this period of Ordinary Time, as Fr. Clyde & I announced back in December, are preparing to enter into an anything but ordinary time in the life of both parish communities. This weekend, I wanted to start to share with you some of the vision & the plan for both of our parishes going forward.

  As we continue in our journey of this new year, I wanted to take a moment to answer a question that I’ve heard about how I mention the names of the Saints in the Eucharistic Prayer at Mass. As you’ve likely noticed, when I celebrate Mass I always mention the names of both parish patrons, St. Vincent de Paul & St. Patrick in the Eucharistic Prayer.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! In the midst of all the activity that these Christmas days bring with them, I wanted to take the opportunity in today’s column to say thank you! It’s something that while I always feel it, I don’t always remember to say it, so again, thank you!

This weekend is the 3rd Sunday of Advent & we light the rose candle on the Advent wreath, reminding us that the celebration of the coming of Christ is near. Next week, as we celebrate the 4th Sunday of Advent, that celebration will be very, very near.

For the past few months we’ve been diving deeper into what is said & done during the Mass. In today’s column, I wanted to look at something that isn’t said during the Mass, but that is still a very integral part of the Mass & that is silence.

It’s said that one of the consistent parts of life is change. Our lives are full of change & that also includes the lives of our parishes. This weekend, I wanted to update you on 2 changes that are/will be happening over time that will impact the lives of both of our parish families.

You are cordially invited to "An Advent Organ Concert" featuring our co-music director Mr. Caleb Tate. This concert will feature an afternoon of improvisational Christmas music, and some classical pieces by Bach, Boellmann, and Guittard. This concert will take place at St. Vincent de Paul Church on Sunday, December 17th at 2:30 PM. All are invited!

 As we continue journeying through the Mass this week, I wanted to look at 2 gestures that happen during the Liturgy of the Word. One that is done by everyone & the second that is done only by the Priest or Deacon, & both take place during the proclamation of the Gospel. As the Priest or Deacon begins the proclamation of the Gospel, they say, “A reading from the Holy Gospel according to ____.”

This weekend we take a break from our walk through the Mass for two very important reminders. First, this Thursday is Thanksgiving Day. It is my hope & prayer that each of you will be able to spend the day with those who are near & dear to you.

We call the Opening Prayer, the Collect. The prayer gains this name because of the purpose that it serves, to collect all of our prayers together into one as we begin the Mass. When the Priest says, “Let us pray,” there is meant to be a moment of silence.

This week, we continue our journey through the Mass by looking at the other options for the Penitential Rite at Mass. In our last column on the Mass, we looked at the first option, the Confiteor. This week, we’ll look at the other options, more commonly known as the Kyrie.

Near the beginning of his Papacy, Pope Francis gave an interview. The first question that he was asked, “Who are you?” To which he replied, “I am a sinner.” The Pope is a sinner, your Pastor is a sinner, we are all sinners. That’s why, as we open the celebration of Mass, we begin by asking God for mercy & forgiveness.

We pause again for our discussion of the Mass in my column this weekend for a “special announcement.” “Are there any who are sick among you? Let them send for the priests of the Church & the Priests of the Church will pray over them.” One of the crosses that we may find ourselves carrying during the course of our lives is the cross of illness, pain, & suffering.

On this first day of October, we celebrate and observe Respect for Life Sunday. As Catholics, we are called to cherish, defend, and protect the gift of life in all its stages, from the beginning of life to its end, and at every point in between.

“And with your spirit” is a much deeper response than my young “fine” was or ever could be. When we respond to the Priest’s greeting with those words, “And with your spirit,” we’re referring to the deep ontological (relating to the very being) change that occurs in a Priest’s soul.