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As I write this, we are preparing for the funeral services for Deacon Turf Martin. Visitation services will be about to begin by the time you read the online version and his funeral services will be complete by the time you see the print version. For now, I want to say that Deacon Turf was an example of a disciple of Christ who lived life to the fullest and never let excuses or even genuine reasons keep him down. He fought to live and fought to live life as fully as he could. He is an example for all of us especially as we live this last week of Lent and move into Holy Week. The whole reason Jesus did what he did was to show us how much our Heavenly Father loves us and to what lengths He goes to give us the opportunity to live the fullness of life here on Earth, take away our sins so that we can live the fullest life possible with him in Heaven.

Sin can hold us back. Let us take the opportunity to free ourselves of our sins this Sunday afternoon at 4pm at Saint Patrick when 9 priests will be with us to hear confessions. I ask you to give thanks to God for the gift of these men who will travel to be with us to hear these confessions. Then prepare to go to confession. We have several examination of conscience sheets for you and there are several more on websites to be easily accessed. Once you have examined your conscience (know your sins) then come to any priest and sit face to face or behind him so you are going anonymously. Once you arrive at the chair, God wins and Satan loses. As you are reading this and thinking about all the reasons you don’t need to go or won’t go… that’s Satan keeping you from going. In the more still quiet recesses of your conscience you know the Lord is inviting; all he will do is propose; he will not impose. Take his proposal and invitation and go! Once you are with the priest, just say, “Forgive me Father for I have sinned.” Tell him approximately how long it has been since your last confession and then name your sins: both things you did you should not have done, and things you did not do you should have done. Then, end with saying, “These are all my sins. I am sorry for these sins and all the sins of my past.” The priest will give encouraging words, give you a penance, ask if you can do the penance and then ask you to pray the “Act of Contrition” out loud. There will be one there for you to read. Then, he will give you absolution (take away your sins from your soul and place them on the cross—that’s the sacramental work of God through the priest.) Once he has given you absolution, there is a closing statement and you are free to leave the chair and do your penance.

Then, on Monday and Tuesday night starting at 6:30pm at Sacred Heart Chapel, come hear and see the presentation given by Tim Francis. Bring a friend or relative with you. He will speak on the miracles of the Eucharist. Once we truly believe this is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity we receive every time we come to Mass, nothing will keep us from the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass! Recently there was a trend that made its way to Facebook asking if you would take one billion dollars or 30 minutes with Jesus. Every Catholic knows the answer is, if you want to give away a billion dollars, sure, give it to me because I can spend as much time as I want with Jesus, yes the second person of the Trinity, as often as I want in front of the Blessed Sacrament in Church. He is here; it is HIM! Scientifically, that may not make sense. Tim Francis, at one point in his life would have agreed, so he wanted to know the science behind the miracles; he wanted his logic, reason, mind and his faith to coexist and for a while the mind was winning over his faith. Through what he will show, he realized his mind (logic, scientific analysis, etc.) and his faith work together.
I remind those seeking to be Catholic during OCIA, here in this Church, we want you to bring your past, your baggage, your wounds, your joys, gifts, talents, intellect, emotions, faith, reason, bring your whole self to these sessions and absorb all he Lord is showing you in these session. Come, be part of the Tim Francis experience and allow your heart, mind, and soul to be transformed as you hear and see what the Lord wants you to hear and see through Tim Francis.

Fortified by the sacrament of reconciliation and a new found appreciation for Jesus in the Eucharist, we enter into Palm Sunday and Holy Week. More on that next weekend!