Due to the weather, we have decided to cancel both the Wine and The Word scheduled for Thursday, March 21, and the Palm Sunday Weekend Retreat beginning on Friday, March 22 through Sunday, March 24. We will keep you posted if Wine and The Word is rescheduled and hope you make plans to attend next year’s Palm Sunday weekend retreat on April 11-13, 2025. Blessings and peace.

At Mass on Ash Wednesday this year, Fr. Lon gave us this verse from Isaiah – Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine. Is 43:1. 

His message was that during Lent, there is an underlying sense of Joy as we have already been redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb. 

In these final days of Holy Week, leading up to the Triduum, our sorrow at seeing the Lord’s suffering and death becomes our focus.  We have prepared our hearts, souls and minds to place ourselves in the midst of His Passion and grow in our love for the Lord, knowing that His sacrifice has given us our life.

We anticipate, with confidence, the Resurrection waiting for us. And we celebrate, again, the everlasting Joy of the Risen Christ.  For 40 days, we have been about Penance and Pray. After the celebration of the Lord’s Passion, it will be time to Sing Alleluia again. From death comes life.

Many blessings to you this Easter Season.

July 20, 1944 – September 20, 2021

The funeral service for Fr. Jim Deegan from the Oblate Shrine in Belleville will be livestreamed on Thursday, September 30, 2021, at 9:30 am. at www.snows.org