Gratitude for Lenten Blessings

by Father Joe

Gratitude for Lenten Blessings

Those who participated in the Lenten Mission last week I'm sure will join me in extending our gratitude to Father Michael Della Penna, who did a phenomenal job encouraging and uplifting us to the “merciful redemption” and the new life we can have in Christ! We also thank the combined music ministries and lectors; members of the Collaborative Pastoral Council, “CIA” youth group and others who served as greeters; volunteers who helped with the audio-visual components; all the priests who joined us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation; and especially Fr. Bill Schmidt: for finding another wonderful mission preacher, promoting and guiding this wonderfully successful mission! May these experiences allow us to see the person we can become with God’s mercy and grace.

Please keep the many people participating in “Discovering Christ” in your prayers this weekend as we hold a Retreat day at LaSalette Shrine, focused on the Holy Spirit. The following reflection seems appropriate to the themes we have been hearing in our Mission and other Lenten experiences. - Fr. Joe

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self centered.
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
Create anyway.

If you fine serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.

Mother Teresa