On this 5th Sunday of Lent, we enter a period traditionally known as Passiontide. A symbolic way we mark this time is by covering the Statues from the 5th Sunday of Lent through Good Friday. Passiontide marks the forward movement of Jesus to Jerusalem and His death on the cross. Our Scriptures from now through Holy Week will invite us to walk with the Lord to the Cross. It reminds us of some challenging aspects of discipleship: the invitation to take up our cross and offer it in union with Jesus and the call to die to self in order to rise with the Lord. Join us for Stations of the Cross this Friday. Walking the Stations is a great way to pray with the Lord during Passiontide.
As the 5th Sunday of Lent falls on March 17th this year, today is also St. Patrick’s Day! Everyone is a little Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. May I also suggest the desire to be a little more like St. Patrick as well! I love his prayer, the Breastplate of St. Patrick. “Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me. Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all who love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.” Our Lenten calendar reminds us that just as St. Patrick brought the faith to Ireland, let’s pray for his intercession to share the faith with others. Remember our vision for Nativity: “Everything we do can be a touchpoint of evangelization!”
March is the Month dedicated to St. Joseph. His feast day is this Tuesday, March 19th. St. Joseph is the patron of the Universal Church, as well as the patron of husbands, fathers, families, workers, carpenters, the unborn, and all those named Joseph. St. Joseph is a model of discipleship. He could have taken an easier route. His intention was to divorce Mary quietly, after he learned the news that she was with child before they were married. “The Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said: 'Do not be afraid to take Mary, your wife into your home. It is by the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.'” Joseph had a change of heart and following God’s direction, he became an instrument in God’s plan to bring forth the Savior. We honor St. Joseph for his courage, his faith, and his love for Jesus and Mary. Joseph is quite a reminder of our call to love the Lord Jesus and to create a home for Him in our hearts and in our families. Most of the images we have of St. Joseph show him holding the child Jesus in his arms. Like the Blessed Mother and all the saints, he always points to Christ!
This afternoon/evening we begin “Penance Service Week” throughout the Johnson County region. Throughout the week, there will be the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation at two or more of the JOCO parishes. We will have 20 priests here at Nativity for our Lenten Penance Service next Sunday, March 24th at 7pm. Please note the schedule for all of the Penance Services included on page 3 of this bulletin. I hope you will be able to celebrate the Sacrament with our parish family here at Nativity, but please know that you are invited and welcome at any of the other services in the region. As the old saying goes (and I believe to be true), “confession is good for the soul.” Celebrating the sacrament is part of good preparation for Easter and the renewal of our Baptismal Promises. How long has it been since you’ve made a good confession? I invite you to consider the wonderful opportunity this week!
Next week begins Holy Week with the Celebration of Palm Sunday. The liturgical color for the day is red. Wear red (if you have it) and add to the festivity! We invite our young people to be a part of the Palm Sunday Procession around the Church at each of the Masses. I hope you have cleared your calendar and will participate in the Sacred Triduum of Holy Week (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday).
Keep our Elect in your prayers this week as they anticipate the Easter Sacraments and membership in the Church!
This Tuesday evening March 19th at 6:30pm, you are invited to participate in a listening session for the next Synod on Synodality that will take place in Rome in October. Please see page 7 of this bulletin for the questions you will discuss and provide feedback. This is a great opportunity to participate in the life of the Universal Church.
Lots of people continue to tell me how much they are enjoying our “33 Days to Eucharistic Glory” Lenten Retreat, which will culminate on Holy Thursday with Eucharistic Consecration at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. This Wednesday March 20th, there will be a gathering of parishioners to discuss our reading and journey thus far. It should be a wonderful evening of sharing and social. Please see details on the cover of this bulletin.
Blessings on Week 5 of the Lenten Journey.
Fr. Mike
Our Knights Under the Star Gala Auction was a huge success! We had a marvelous time and we raised a lot of money for our parish and school. (We will give you a report when expenses have settled). The participation in this event went beyond those who attended. An event like this takes a lot of planning, coordination, generosity and work on the part of many people. “God loves a cheerful giver!” Everyone who has played a part in making this event happen has done it with generosity and enthusiasm. Thanks for being cheerful givers! Special kudos to our auction chairs: Julie & Kelly Kearney and Amy & Chris Nessinger who did an amazing job leading this year’s event. We are so grateful! Mark your calendar now for Knights Under the Star 2025 – March 1, 2025.
Congratulations to our 8th graders who received the Sacrament of Confirmation this past Wednesday. We are so proud of our kids as they mark this milestone in their faith journey, becoming fully initiated members of the Catholic Church! Thanks to their parents, grandparents, family members, friends, teachers, and Nativity Parish for the role you have played in helping hand on the Catholic Faith to our young people.
The 4th Sunday of Lent is traditionally known as “Laetare” or “be joyful” Sunday! The entrance antiphon speaks the joy of this Sunday… “Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her. Be Joyful, all who were in mourning; exult and be satisfied at her consoling breast.” This “Joy” is all about anticipating the Easter Feast of our Salvation! Traditionally, this was the Sunday when the catechumens were decked with rose petals and roses were mutually exchanged by the faithful. As a result, the custom
of wearing the rosecolored vestment came about on this Sunday. Perhaps part of our homework this week entails naming reasons for joy in our lives. I love it when the little kids sing, “I’ve Got that Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy, Down in my Heart! Down in My Heart to Stay! And I’m so Happy, so Very Happy! I’ve Got the Love of Jesus in My Heart!” Does this song ring true for us? It should! Did coming to Mass today instill a Spirit of Joy? “I rejoiced because they said to me: Let us go up to the House of the Lord.” “I received the Living God and my heart is full of joy!” Take the time this week to connect with the True Source of Joy. In His presence, name your blessings and priceless treasures that bring you joy! If you know someone who could use some joy in their life – how could you be an instrument of joy for them?
Our Gospel for today’s feast is probably the most wellknown passage in the Scriptures: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that all who believe in him might not perish but have everlasting life.” It’s a message that speaks to each of us personally: For God so loved each of us that He gave Jesus for our Salvation! That beautiful truth is celebrated at every Mass as Jesus’ Sacrifice on Calvary is made truly present. We receive that saving love in Holy Communion, and the pledge of eternal life is renewed.
I am loving the “33 Days to Eucharistic Glory” we have been reading in preparation for the Eucharistic Consecration on Holy Thursday. There are so many wonderful takeaways. Here are three that have stuck with me. 1.“We are on Pilgrimage, we are just passing through.” 2.“Just keep showing up: for prayer, Sunday Mass, and other spiritual practices, regardless of how you feel or whether it is convenient. Just keep showing up and let God work on you.” 3. “People emulate the five people they spend the most time with, make Jesus one of those five people. Spending time with Jesus in the Eucharist will transform your life.”
Best wishes for finding reasons for Joy in your life this week!
Fr. Mike