Pastor’s Keyboard: I’m Back!  I was finally recovering from the youth group ski-trip, and the post ski-trip with the young adults, when I realized this last Monday that we are only a little over two weeks away from Easter!  That means Holy Week itself is a little over a week away.

Certainly, Holy Week is the most amazing week of my whole year, but the preparation for it is huge. Ever since I realized how close we are to Holy Week, the more I find my mind wanting to go through the details as if it were already here. Yet Lent is not over! There are still opportunities for grace and spiritual renewal this Lent. The Gift program at St. Michael’s for adults and youth is going strong.  The evening masses at St. Peter’s Monday night and St. Cecilia Wednesday and Friday evenings are still growing.  The Stations of the Cross devotions on Friday evenings are still happening.  And as if this were not enough, the opportunity for us to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation after the weekend Masses continues for two more Sundays! This Monday, you can go to confession, Mass and Healing Prayers at IHM. It’s a three for one deal!

These are all opportunities that the Lord is offering to us to grow closer to Him, but are we taking advantage of these opportunities? Ask yourself, “Has this been a fruitful Lent?”. If so, let’s keep running until the finish line at Easter Vigil. If not, let’s get back up and take ahold of some of the opportunities for graces.

Lent is coming to an end, but the graces it offers are still flowing.  I hope everyone will take the time to receive these graces. If we do, we will find that Holy Week will not just be a busy week of Masses and services, but a week of abundant grace that you and I have prepared well to receive this Lent.

Please keep me and the staff of the parishes in your prayers.  We are going to need them. Also, be assured of our prayers too.

Your Brother and Father in Christ,

Fr Scott