Second Sunday of Lent, February 25, 2024

SJE Admin • February 25, 2024

Dear Friends,

What a blessing it was to host the funeral Mass for Fr. Bob and his sister Sally Hoeffner on Tuesday, February 20. It was very sad to lose two such lovely people who served the Lord in their own way so dearly. It was so good to see that so many came to pay their homage.

We received many complements and words of gratitude from the Bishop, the Chancery Staff, the Priests, the Deacons and those attending, especially the Hoeffner family. Gerry Hoeffner, the brother of Fr. Bob, was in tears when told me how much the family was in awe of all that we did for them. Kudos to all the different ministries for doing what you do best, all the time. Some of those who came spoke to me of joining our parish. Thank you for modeling so well St. John’s spirit of hospitality!

As we journey with Jesus with enthusiasm in the beginning days of Lent, please know that there are a multitude of opportunities here to lift you up spiritually. The goal of Lent is to draw closer to Christ. This can be measured by how closely you walk with Jesus in his suffering.

As we plumb the depths of Jesus’s love for us in his willingness to take up the Cross, do not hesitate to converse with him about your crosses. You will find in that conversation a God who knows you intimately, who offers you the consolation you need. I had the privilege of celebrating the funeral service for Kathryn Connor (103) on Monday, 19 February. Her obituary portrays well this woman of strong faith: “Kathryn knew at an early age that having a personal relationship with the Lord was important. She gave her life to the Lord. Kathryn said ‘the Lord gave us the power to love,’ she was a true saint to all that knew her. She never had a bad word to say about anyone. God did not promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, nor sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears and light for the way.” If you have personal relationship with the Lord for such a long time, then it is obvious that you would know the power to love and the power to suffer, too. Find in Christ the comfort you are looking for as you carry your crosses.

Jesus found his comfort when he went up to the mountain where he was transfigured in the presence of his close friends and disciples, Peter, James and John. This is the passage we will hear at this Sunday’s Mass. The Gospel of Mark (9: 2-10) tells us that Jesus heard his Father speak to him through a voice that came through the cloud: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!” This is the way the Father God offered his beloved Son the comforting reassurance that he is with him as he looks to the Way of the Cross.

There are indeed two mountains on our journey of life. The popular American author David Brooks talks about these two mountains in his book, “The Second Mountain.” He speaks of the first mountain, called “Ambition,” which is all about our accomplishments. It is all about me. Brooks says that this journey can end in catastrophe. Many ambitious people climb to the peak of the mountain only to find that something’s missing. Then begins the journey for a deeper meaning, which takes them to the second mountain, called, “Vocation.” On this journey, your life is defined by fervent commitment as you listen to God.

Jesus knew that the first mountain of Transfiguration was only a stop along the way to his final destination: the mount of Golgotha. There the Lord’s disciple finds another type of glory of the Son of God. Peter’s attempt to stay on the mount of Tabor for good would not work. We must take the road to the mount of Calvary to discover the glory that lasts forever.

Please do not forget that we will have our Lenten Parish Mission on March 4-6 (Monday to Wednesday) at 7 p.m. each night in the church.

We are all set to go on two pilgrimages this year: a 12-day pilgrimage to The Shrines of Ireland (July 22- August 2, 2024) and a 6-day pilgrimage to The Shrines of Canada (September 23-28, 2024). Please call or stop by the office for the Registration Form.

Have a Blessed Week! With love,

Fr. John

< Older Post Newer Post >

First Sunday of Lent, March 9, 2025

March 9, 2025

Dear friends, The holy season of Lent has begun with a glorious Ash Wednesday. It was heartwarming to see our children at the 7 a.m. Mass that day. They wore the cross-shaped ashes on their foreheads to school, proud to show their faith and be silent evangelizers. We are very proud of them! Now that it is Lent, we will offer Stations of the Cross at the Grotto each day of the week except Sunday, including the traditional Stations on Fridays. I urge you to look at the bulletin for all the details about special Masses and other spiritual activities that have been created to support you on your lenten journey. I ask that you take the Lenten Schedule on page 8 and post it where you will remember to look at it. In particular, note the information about the Lenten Mission on March 16-18, the special programing for the Tuesdays of Lent, and the many spiritual activities on Fridays. We can approach Lent as the opportunity to do a spiritual “spring cleaning.” As one good priest reminded me: “Lent is a time to re-read the ‘owner’s manual,’ to tune our ‘engines,’ and to refurbish our ‘vehicles’ – not only for the journey of 40 days but also for the journey of life, the right life–and the right eternity.” God has given us an inexhaustible capacity for the transformation needed for becoming holy. Lent is also that special time of year when we walk with our catechumens and candidates as they prepare to become full members of the Catholic faith during the Easter Vigil. We are called to support them through our prayers and examples of faith. Remember to pray for their sponsors and their families as well. During the Vigil Mass on 8 March, the St. John’s family will join with our catechumens in celebration of the ritual called the Rite of Sending. In this rite, they will be recognized for the progress they have made in their spiritual formation. Then we will send them on to the Rite of Election which will be celebrated by Bishop Noonan the next day, 9 March, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe. We are very proud of the perseverance and dedication of our sisters and brothers . In this Jubilee Year 2025 themed, “Pilgrims of Hope,” it is good to reflect on the words of St. Teresa of Avila about hope and what it accomplishes: “Hope, O my soul, hope. You know neither the day nor the hour. Watch carefully, for everything passes quickly, even though your impatience makes doubtful what is certain, and turns a very short time into a long one. Dream that the more you struggle, the more you prove the love that you bear your God, and the more you will rejoice one day with your Beloved, in a happiness and rapture that can never end.” On the First Sunday of Lent, we always revisit the scene of the temptation of Jesus in the desert where he spent 40 days fasting and praying. We also recall our ancestors in faith, the ancient Israelites, who for 40 years trudged their way through the desert to the promised land. Jesus, through his patient acceptance of suffering and his rejection of the allurements of the devil, models the correct response in times of adversity and testing. This is in contrast with the ancient Israelites who murmured and complained bitterly about their ordeal. Jesus never swerved from being obedient to his Father; he completely and utterly depended on Him. Let us, too, place complete confidence in the Father during our times of trial, of which there will be many. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, continues to need our prayers. Let us continue to pray for his healing: “O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful, look favorably on your servant Francis, whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd; grant, we pray, that by word and example he may be of service to those over whom he presides so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care, he may come to everlasting life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” I take this opportunity to announce that Beth Lowry has joined our parish staff as the new Business Manager. She held the position of bookkeeper in our office some years ago. Beth is well known to many at St. John’s. She and her devoted husband Steve have long been involved in many of our ministries. Beth brings a rich variety of work experience and abilities to her new position, and we wish her a positive and pleasant experience as she takes on this leadership role at St. John’s. Welcome, Beth! Have an inspiring and enriching LENT! With love, Fr. John