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READINGS FOR THE WEEK

Monday: 2 Kgs 5:1-15b; Lk 4:24-30

Tuesday: Dn 3:25, 34-43; Mt 18:21-35

Wednesday: Dt 4:1, 5-9; Mt 5:17-19

Thursday: Jer 7:23-28; Lk 11:14-23

Friday: Hos 14:2-10; Mk 12:28-34

Saturday: Hos 6:1-6; Lk 18:9-14

Sunday: Jos 5:9a, 10-12; Ps 34; 2 Cor 5:17-21;

Lk 15:1-3, 11-32

Alternate readings (Year A):

1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Ps 23;

Eph 5:8-14; Jn 9:1-41

[1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38]

Dear Brothers and Sisters

Once again, we are about to begin another spiritual journey in order to walk with our Lord, Jesus Christ, during this Season of Lent as God’s time of Grace for each of us. Lent is a time of preparation. It looks forward to our annual commemoration of the paschal mystery of Christ at Easter wherein we celebrate the victory over sin and death.

On Ash Wednesday, our mother Church once again will call each of us to repentance by means of the ceremony of the ashes. This call is meant for all of us without exceptions, for the ashes remind us, first, of our human weakness. No matter who we may be, no matter how good we may think we are, because of our weakness we have been guilty of sin and need repentance. The ashes are a symbol of the inevitability of death when we must face God to give an accounting of our lives. Finally, there is a sense of urgency about this call to repentance because we have no idea of when death will acclaim each one of us.

We have all been through enough Lents to realize that complete transformation probably will not occur. But Lent is an opportunity for repair work in a specific area of our life that might need reconstruction.

Repentance means a turning away from sin and turning toward our God, a real change of heart necessary for all of us. Daily Mass during Lent is an excellent way to achieve true repentance. In the Scripture lessons we will hear what God’s Divine Will is for us, that is, just what we are to do to practice repentance. In the Holy Eucharist or Mass, we look to God to receive the grace we need to follow out what we learn in the Scripture Lessons. .

Finally, let us keep in mind that Lent is not a time for temporary improvement until Easter after which we go back to business as usual. But instead, its purpose is to make a lasting change in our life. Let us never forget, we do not know whether we will have another change or opportunity.

Rev. Santos Ortega

Lenten Soups

Lenten season is upon us again. We would like to invite you every Friday commencing on February 19th during Lent to join us for dinner at the parish hall. Dinner will be sponsored by all of our ministries, which will be donating all the meals. Dinner begins at 6:00 p.m. followed by the Stations of the Cross at 7:00 p.m. Please come and enjoy some wonderful hardy food with great company.

All you can eat breakfast for $10

February 27, 2010 from 8 a.m.- 10 a.m.

19201 Bear Valley Rd, Apple Valley

Please come help support our World Youth Day Pilgrims

reach their goal as they travel to Spain to share their faith

and be rejuvenated to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.