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Fourth Monday Lent, 2020

We made it through the first week. We had nice virtual crowds for both our recorded and live-streaming Masses this weekend, thank you! Like I said at the Mass, we keep upgrading equipment and figuring this thing out, it will only get better. I successfully baked bread for the first time last night! Well, I say it was successful, I haven’t tried it yet, but it looks like bread. I know we have some of our younger parishioners who watch and listen to these and I’d like to get them involved (whether they belong to this parish or not). So if our kids want, I’d like to invite them to draw something, draw anything, and have their parents or grandparents send it to me either by taking a picture of it, scanning it, mailing it, whatever, and I will include those pictures on these posts so everyone can see them. Thank you!

Stay safe and God bless,

Fr. Alex

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Third Saturday Lent, 2020

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Well. We made it another day. Thanks be to God. One day at a time, it’s all we can do. Just as an FYI for the weekend gameplan here at OLMC Virtual Parish. I will upload a recorded Mass on Sunday evening which will be viewable any time. Or, if you are willing to roll the dice, I will be attempting to live-stream the Mass at 11 AM on Sunday morning. It will be available on the site as will a link to our youtube page where you can interact during the Mass.

Stay safe and God bless,

Fr. Alex

Third Friday Lent, 2020

Video! I’m learning every single day. By the time the pandemic is over hopefully I’ll be able to produce a full length feature film. But I shouldn’t get overconfident, I accidentally left my cell phone in my pocket and put my pants in the washing machine yesterday morning, so…they balance out, I guess? I hope everyone is doing well, staying safe, socially distant, and taking care of themselves spiritually and mentally. We will get through this. Pray for those who are sick and in harms way and for those who put themselves at risk to help others.

Readings for the Third Friday in Lent, 2020

Solemnity of St. Joseph, 2020

During my last two years of school in Italy I was the only American in my class (12 of us) and for a time the only American in the entire university. The Feast of St. Joseph is a big deal in Italy and traditionally they eat this dessert called a zeppole…mmm…so good. Well every year on March 19th I would bring zeppoli in for the whole class to prove my cultural literacy and show my appreciation for their friendship. I have been thinking a lot lately about how all of those people I studied with from all over the world—Kenya, Thailand, Nigeria, Venezuela, Brazil, Ukraine, and of course Italy—are at this moment having the exact experience we are. Nobody is excluded from this, it is binding together the entire human race. I pray for all of them daily, especially the people of Italy who are in particular danger right now. Hopefully we come out of this crisis bound together as a human family under the protection of the universal patron of the Church who we celebrate today, St. Joseph.

Stay safe and God bless

Fr. Alex

Readings for the Solemnity of St. Joseph

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Third Wednesday Lent, 2020

With each passing day this situation seems to get more real. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but I tend to be a pretty high energy person (I think some of you play Roche Pong when you’re sitting in the pews, counting how many times I walk from the back of the church to the sanctuary before beginning the Mass). It’s not much of a problem usually, actually it’s typically a blessing—I have a lot of energy and I burn it by moving from place to place, task to task. That doesn’t work as well when you’re not supposed to go anywhere, though. In fact I think I’m spooking Apollo (dog) by just pacing around the house all day, he looks at me like I’m nuts.

Anyway, please continue to pray for our medical professionals and offer them support however you can, they have a lot of long days and nights ahead of them.

Stay safe and God bless,

Fr. Alex

Readings for the Third Wednesday of Lent

Third Monday Lent, 2020

Let’s go ahead and do this every day. Below are the readings for Monday, March 16, 2020; then an audio version of my daily reflection; and finally two prayers I would like to invite you and your family to pray in the weeks to come. One is an old prayer and the other a new one. Pick one you like and make it a part of your daily spiritual routine as we find our way through this mess.

Stay safe and God bless,

Fr. Alex

Readings for the Third Monday of Lent

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Third Sunday of Lent, 2020

Due to the fact that many of our parishioners will not be able to attend Mass this weekend and perhaps for several weekends to come, I thought I would begin posting an audio version of my homily on our website at least every Sunday. Check out the readings for the day in the link below, reflect on them, and then, if you like, check out this weekend’s homily.

Stay safe and God bless,

Fr. Alex

Readings for the Third Sunday of Lent, 2020

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