From Father's Desk
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The children of our parish looking forward to their First Holy Communion are in the final countdown to that joyous day on May 1, 2022. The foundational spiritual preparation for receiving the gift of the Eucharist is being reconciled to God and the Church in the Sacrament of Penance. During the month of March, Jesus will meet these children in the Confessional, take away their sins, and restore them to the original purity of heart granted at Baptism. After their First Penance, they are ready to be open to the gift of Holy Communion in the Eucharist.
Have you allowed Jesus to meet you in the Confessional to renew, refresh and strengthen you, so that the gift of Holy Communion in the Eucharist deeply impacts you? In these forty days of Lent, make an effort to get to Confession. Part of our Catholic game plan for life is Confession at least once a year, or as frequently as needed to be forgiven of serious sins. Father Furlong and I will be available for Confession every Monday during Lent from 6pm-7pm, in addition to the regular Saturday 3pm-3:45pm time. Or mark your calendars to go to Confession with a priest from another parish at the New Bedford Deanery Penance Service on Tuesday March 29 from 6:30pm-7:30pm at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart Parish Church at 121 Mt. Pleasant St.
Here’s an Examination of Conscience adapted from a Lenten Reflection from Pope Francis:
“Care for your spiritual life, your relationship with God.”
▪ Am I a Christian who is not nourished by prayer and the sacraments?
▪ Do I study the Word of God?
“Care for your family life...”
▪ Do I give my family time, attention, and love?
▪ Do I care for their daily needs?
“Heal the wounds of the heart with the oil of forgiveness...”
▪ Have I forgiven others who have hurt me?
▪ Have I said “I’m sorry” to those whom I have hurt and have I tried to make amends?
“Watch how you speak...”
▪ Do I need to purify my everyday language from offensive words, vulgarities?
▪ Do I gossip about others or tell false truths?
“Care for your work...”
▪ Do I work with enthusiasm and passion?
▪ Am I humble enough to thank the Lord for my accomplishments?
▪ Do I use my God-given skills and talents in the service of others?
“Avoid envy, lust, hatred, and negative feelings...”
▪ Are my thoughts and actions destructive toward my relationships, especially with those whom I love?
▪ Do my thoughts destroy my inner peace?
▪ Do I allow lust to cloud my thoughts and actions?
▪ Do I say insulting things when it would be better to remain silent?
▪ Do I surround myself with angry or destructive people?
“Reach out to those who need you... this is how you will be judged.”
▪ Do I assist the weak, the elderly, the sick?
▪ Do I stand up for foreigners or for those who are oppressed?
▪ Do I feed the hungry and shelter the homeless?
“Let go of...”
▪ “The bitterness that brings us to revenge”
▪ “The laziness that leads to existential euthanasia”
▪ “The finger-pointing that leads to pride”
▪ “The complaining that leads to despair”