1171 NE Sand Hill Rd | Belfair, WA 98528

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Pastor's Pages 2021-02-28

Dear Parishioners:

  • Each year on the Second Sunday of Lent, the gospel reading tells of the Transfiguration of Jesus on Mt. Tabor. But, today's Old Testament and Gospel reading take place on two important biblical mountains— Moriah and Mt. Tabor.  Both readings give us profound insights into our God and his Son, Jesus, who is our Savior.

"Take your son, your only son Isaac whom you love ... and offer him as a burnt offering. ... So, Abraham rose early in the morning."  Because Abraham listened to the Lord's messenger, his only son's life was spared. The binding of Isaac, then, is a symbol of life, not death, for Abraham is forbidden to sacrifice his son.

What happens on Mount Moriah finds an echo in what happens atop Mount Tabor and Mount Calvary in the New Testament:  The mounts Moriah, Tabor and Calvary are significant places of vision in the Bible.  For on these peaks, we see a God who never abandons us in our deepest despair, terror and death.  God is with us through thick and thin

These mountains teach us that it is only when we are willing to let go of what we love most and cherish most in this life, to offer it back to God, the giver of all good gifts, that we can ever hope to receive it back in ways we never dreamed of or imagined.  Only then will we experience resurrection, healing, consoling light and new life.  

  • The awesome Gospel story of the Transfiguration gives us an opportunity to look at some of our own mountaintop experiences.  
      • How have such 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?
      • How has the mountaintop experience enabled us to listen more attentively to God's voice -- a voice calling us to fidelity and authenticity in our belief?
  • Congratulation to the newly Elects and Candidate for Full Communion in the Catholic Church. These are Catechumens and Candidates who are called and chosen by our Archbishop Etienne to prepare for the Easter Sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist at Easter Vigil).
  • With our own journey of “conversion” in this Lenten Season, please remember to pray in a special way for these newly Elects and Candidates in our parish 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 “Scrutinieson the third, Fourth and Fifth Sunday of Lent.
  • At St. Gabriel:
      • Daily Mass is at 11:00 AM (Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday);
      • Friday: 12:00 PM - Station of the Cross.  
  • At Prince of Peace:
      • Thursday 10:00 AM – Mass
      • Friday       3:00 PM – Stations of the Cross in English
                         6:00 PM – Stations of the Cross in Spanish
  • Please take home the Lenten Season ResourceLenten Black Book, Package of the Year of Eucharist with reflection question for each week until the Feast of Corpus Christi (Body and Blood of Christ) and the Archdiocesan …. as you come into the Church.
  • Coming Soon …watch the parish website and the bulletin for information on the presentation of this 5-parts Workshop via ZOOM by Ron Belisle on Pope Francis Encyclical “Fratelli Tutti – On Fraternity and Social Friendship

Christ’s Peace, 
Fr. Phuong Hoang

 

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