Lighten the Load, and Give Thanks for Blessings

Feeling weighed down by the Lenten language of sin and repentance? Wishing we could go back to last year's Jubilee focus on God's mercy? Well you can, because The Light Is On for You again this Lent. Each Wednesday 6:30-8:00pm throughout the Archdiocese of Boston, priests are available for you to come (discuss/unload?) whatever you're feeling guilty about and celebrate this Sacrament of Reconciliation with God. If you're not sure whether something is sinful, or if you don't recall how to go to confession, just ask the priest so he can help and guide you. The Mercy of God pervades this whole sacramental encounter, offering encouragement, forgiveness, and the grace we all need to follow Christ a little more closely. In our Plainville - Wrentham Collaborative, a priest will be available in the Reconciliation room at St. Mary church each Wednesday evening, as well as Saturdays 3- 3:45pm. At St. Martha church there will be many priests available during the Lenten Mission, as well as Sundays 9:15-9:45am in the confessional near the back pew. Lighten your load this Lent, and come back to a closer relationship with God through the graced experience of Reconciliation.

In addition to gratitude for God's abundant mercy, we are all very grateful to those parishioners who are generous with their stewardship of time, talent, and treasure. Most recently, we were blessed with volunteers to help with snow removal as this week's storm was transitioning from wet snow to rain that made it even heavier! (If you would like to put your name on a list of those we call in case there's another big storm, please call your parish office.) Both parishes have Knights of Columbus councils that are supportive of our parishes in many practical ways. In particular, I wish to thank the Knights at St. Martha for so faithfully running monthly breakfast socials, and for their annual donation to the Parish Grand Annual. Thank you to the St. Mary Knights for running a fun poker night that also raised money to help offset recent maintenance and repair work needed at the church. Finally, thank you to all the members of each parish for your generous support of both the Parish Grand Annual and the Archdiocesan Catholic Appeal. Last year was the first year in a long time that each parish significantly exceeded the archdiocesan goal, so both parishes received rebate checks for 65% of the amount over the target. We will keep you posted as we receive updates on how we are doing with this year's campaigns, but please know how proud I am to be pastor of two communities that support both the needs of the local parish and the wider Church! May our stewardship of time, talent, and treasure help us all to be ever more appreciative of the many ways God blesses us and helps us to care for one another.