Welcome to the first Sunday of Lent. Perhaps by now you have figured out what you would like to do for the season that allows you to grow in the faith and live out the virtues. If not, there is still time to consider what will allow you to be transformed by the Holy Spirit. That is the true goal of giving something up or taking something on in this season of conversion. In Lent the Stations of the Cross are highlighted and prayed as a community at Noon on Fridays at St. Peter and before the 9 am Mass at St. Casimir. Such a prayer can be prayed all year long but taking this time to reflect on what Jesus did for us also allows us to grow in gratitude.
March 10th (Monday) priests of the diocese in our area are gathering in Mosinee with Bishop Battersby for an evening of prayer and reflection followed by fellowship. There is much to pray about the future of the diocese and the vision that the Bishop has for our local church. If you are able to enter into prayer yourself at that time, please do with those intentions in mind.
As was announced last weekend, Fr. Todd will be taking on a new assignment in Marshfield starting on May 1st. We will be looking at an opportunity to thank him for his priestly ministry these last number of years at St. Casimir and St. Peter parishes. Watch for details. Such changes bring to mind the need to pray for priestly vocations for our diocese. Those vocations come from families, so pray for families that can nurture God’s call in the lives of our young people.
For our young people, on March 12th, St. Bronislava is hosting the Youth Rally open to all of our middle schoolers and high Schoolers in the surrounding area. Bishop Battersby is the main speaker that evening. There will be musical prayer and time for adoration. I ask that all of you keep that evening in your prayers for fruitfulness and a stirring of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of our young people to love Jesus all the more.