Bulletin for Feb. 25

Dear friends in Christ,

In this second week of Lent we are invited up the mountain with Peter, James and John as we hear the stirring account of the Transfiguration of Jesus in the presence of Moses and Elijah. This is always one of my favorite biblical passages, and you can see it depicted in one of the stained-glass windows in the church. It shows how Jesus is the fulfillment of the law (Moses) and the prophets (Elijah), yet fear strikes the disciples and they don’t quite grasp what is happening. What fear is keeping us from recognizing the Lord in our own lives? Do we hear God’s voice? What might we need to let go of in this Lenten season to be able to recognize Jesus at work in our lives?

Almsgiving, along with prayer and fasting, is one of the pillars of Lent, and a great way to practice that is through CRS Rice Bowls that were distributed right before Lent began. (If you need one, we have extras in the narthex and in the office.) We invite you to save your extra change, perhaps contributing the money you would have spent on that which you “gave up” for Lent. We’ll collect those once Lent is over and all the proceeds will go to support Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to alleviate suffering and provide assistance to people in need in nearly 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.

Another great way to give alms is through your pledge to the annual Diocesan Services Fund. If you haven’t yet done so, please remember to return your pledge card to the office or in the collection basket, or better yet, make your pledge online. Additional pledge envelopes are available in the pews or in the office, but making your pledge online at www.archgh.org/dsf is the easiest option. Your DSF pledge goes to support the more than 60 ministries of the Archdiocese bringing God’s mercy to those most in need. Thanks in advance for your support of this yearly initiative that does so much good for so many in our Archdiocese.

You can actually practice two of the three pillars of Lent at the same time when you pledge online. By registering with our automated electronic giving program, Faith Direct, you can fast from envelopes not only for Lent, but forever. We’re inviting parishioners to “give up” offertory envelopes during this season and make your weekly tithe online. It saves the parish money (less envelopes to print and mail) and makes it easier for you (no more checks to write or envelopes to remember to bring). Go to www.faithdirect.net and enter our parish code of TX150. It’s easy, fast and secure.

Please keep our catechumens and candidates in your prayers as they journey to Easter and full reception into the Catholic faith. Over the next three Sundays of Lent, beginning next week, the catechumens (i.e., the elect) will undergo what is known as the “scrutinies” at the 9 a.m. Mass. These are small liturgical “check points” to prepare them for baptism at the Easter Vigil. It’s a powerful reminder for them and for us of the need of conversion throughout our lives. We join the elect in scrutinizing our lives and pray for the grace to overcome the power of sin that infects our hearts.

Our Lenten Mission with Fr. Bruce Nieli was a great success last week. I’ll have a full report on it in next week’s bulletin. Let me call your attention to another Lenten conference that is just around the corner. We are again hosting the Rays of Enlightenment Divine Mercy Conference on Saturday, March 3 in our Parish Hall. There’s no charge to attend, but please sign-up in advance at www.ctrcc.com/rays-rsvp so that we might prepare for those who will be attending.

The Divine Mercy Conference features a series of talks, reflections and prayer centered around the beautiful merciful heart of Jesus. Devotion to the Divine Mercy was encouraged by St. John Paul II and it has become a source of comfort and healing to many throughout the world. We’ve hosted the conference for several years now and it has proven to be a real blessing for all those who attend. Fr. Gerald Goodrum is one of the speakers this year, and I know him well as a brother priest in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. I think you’ll really enjoy him and all the speakers. See the website for more information and to register.

Though not a CtR event specifically, let me invite you to join us as well for the upcoming Cypress Assistance Ministries’ Angel Breakfast featuring Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale. It will be from 7:30-9 a.m. on Wednesday, March 7 in our Parish Hall. It’s a fundraiser for CAM as they raise donations to build a new home for CAM on Cypress N. Houston Road. Their lease will soon be up at the complex of buildings on Huffmeister and after more than 27 years they will finally have a place that is their own. Remember that CAM started as a ministry of CtR and has grown into one of the largest neighborhood social ministry agency in Houston.

Tickets for the CAM Breakfast are $100 each and your support will go a long way in helping them construct their new facility. CAM will still be doing the same ministry –helping those in need – but this allows them to expand and increase their outreach to so many in need. Of course, Mattress Mack is nothing less than a local hero to so many in the community with his help to those who were left stranded in Hurricane Harvey. He’s also a great Catholic businessman whose faith influences his actions. You know he’ll be a dynamic speaker, too, so please join us in welcoming CAM to our campus and help them reach their goal for construction. For information and tickets, contact Janet Ryan at 281-815-0162. 

You are invited each Friday in Lent to join us for the Knights of Columbus Fish Fry from 4:30-7:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall, followed by Stations of the Cross at 7 p.m. in the church. The Knights got off to a great start on Week 1 with more than 1,300 dinners sold. Thanks to all who helped make it a special event for the parish and community. And Stations were equally well attended. It’s a great way to wrap up the week by walking with Jesus on the way to Calvary.

Peace,
Fr. Sean