1171 NE Sand Hill Rd | Belfair, WA 98528

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Pastor's Page 2020-03-08

Dear Parishioners:

  • Each year on the Second Sunday of Lent, the gospel reading tells of the Transfiguration. Matthew’s account of the Transfiguration (17:1-9) confirms that Jesus is the Son of God and points to fulfilment of the prediction that he will come in his Father’s glory at the end of the age.

Peter, James, and John are with Jesus in this moment of glory on Tabor. They resurface with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane as their master struggles with his fate. Those who witness his heavenly glory must also witness his earthly agony. If the followers of Jesus wish to share his future glory, they must be prepared to participate in his suffering.

The awesome Gospel story of the Transfiguration challenges us to ask how we listen to the Word of God in our lives.

    • How do we act upon the Word we have heard?
    • How have some of our own mountain top experiences shed light on the shadows and darkness of life?
    • What would our lives be without some of these peak experiences?
    • How often do we turn to those few but significant experiences for strength, courage, and perspective?

Abraham is a man whose life changed the course of world history. In today’s first reading from (Genesis 12:1-4), God commands Abram to cut his ties to his nation, his ties to his kinship group, and finally even his ties to his immediate family.

God calls Abram to a loyalty and commitment that transcend even his blood ties, the most important of all relationships in the ancient world.

But this command comes with a powerful promise:

    • Firstly, God promises Abram a “land that I will show you.”
    • Secondly, God promises to make of Abram’s offspring a great nation with the implication of a long line of descendants.
    • Thirdly, God promises to “bless” Abram. Blessing involves fertility, life, success, well- being, and a good name.

 

  • Congratulation to the newly Elects and Candidate for Full Communion
        (Our parish has met them at 11:00 AM Sunday Masses in “Rite of Acceptance” awhile back)

These are Catechumens who are called and chosen by the head of the local Church to prepare for the Easter Sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist at Easter Vigil). This past Saturday, February 29, Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, on behalf of the Church called all the Catechumens from our Olympic Deanery, including St. Gabriel Parish and Prince of Peace, in a celebration called the “Rite of Election” at St. Cecilia in Bainbridge Island.

With our own journey of “conversion” in this Lenten Season, please remember to pray in a special way for these newly Elects in our parishes that they will be more open and readier to prepare for the Easter Sacraments. Their particular path in this Lenten Season will take them through the three “Scrutinies on the third, Fourth and Fifth Sunday of Lent.

  • One of the ways our Lenten Season can be more meaningful is to support “Home Mission Collection”. This is the support of the U.S. Catholic Church and U.S. Territories to assist parishes in providing the tools and personnel for passing on our living Faith. This collection of support will be taken as a second collection at all Masses this weekend February 29 & March 1. Thank you for your support to the Home Mission Collection.
  • Come and be a part of a community journey on every Fridays in the Lenten Season at 6:00 PM with a “nutritious soup supper” and then at 7:00 PM, join with other parishioners in the “Stations of the Cross”, follow with “veneration of the Cross” with Taize Music and an opportunity for “individual confession”.
  • Are you reflecting the message of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew and some interesting facts about the Lenten in the Black Book during this Lenten Season? Perhaps, you can join others sharing what you learn or meaningful to you at Soup Supper on Fridays or at Coffee and Donuts on Sundays.

Christ’s Peace, 
Fr. Phuong Hoang

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