Dear Padre...
Our deacon was preaching about Lent and mentioned that the Church calls us to metanoia. What did he mean?
Most of us think of Lent as a time of penance. We receive our ashes and take up some traditional practice of giving up something or doing something for Lent. But there's more to Lent than just practices of piety or acts of penance and mortification. Your deacon is correct.
In Lent, the Church calls us to metanoia, a Greek word meaning "a change of mind and heart." We begin a new way of thinking
and acting. We take a long, hard look at our lifestyle and  compare it to the values Jesus offers. Then we change our lives to match the values of the Lord. This, of course, is difficult to
do alone.
​The Church asks us to pray during Lent that the Lord's power will enter our lives and give us the wisdom to see a new direction and the courage to move in that direction.
The Church suggests we strengthen our resolve through acts of personal mortification and sacrifice for others. This will tighten the belt of our discipline and train us for the more sweeping changes that we must make.
The Scripture readings for the first three weeks of Lent center on metanoia. The readings direct us to understand what is involved with "changing our hearts" and seeking a new life direction. Listen to them well and they will lead you to metanoia.
From Dear Padre: Questions Catholics Ask, © 2003 Liguori Publications Sundaybulletin@Liguori.org

MASSES FOR March 6th-14th
Saturday, March 6th- Third Sunday of Lent 4:00 PM +Stasia & +Joseph Patykula Req. Family
Sunday, March 7th - Third Sunday of Lent 10:00 AM OLPH Parishioners, Living & Deceased
Monday, March 8th-Lenten Weekday 7:30 AM Reconciliation with God & Blessed Mother's Protection Req. Casimir P.
Tuesday, March 9th-Lenten Weekday 7:30 AM ++Obenauf Family
Wednesday, March 10th-Lenten Weekday 7:30 AM Health & God's Blessings Req. Abigail G.
Thursday, March 11th-Lenten Weekday 7:30 AM ++Souls in Purgatory
Friday, March 12th-Lenten Weekday
       5:00 PM Stations of the Cross
       5:30 PM +Rita & +Tom Schemm Req. George Schemm
Saturday, March 13th-Lenten Weekday 7:30 AM +Walter & +Helen Palys Req. Family
Saturday, March 13th-Fourth Sunday of lent 4:00 PM-- +Bill Regula Req. Joan Cyr
Sunday, March 14th--Fourth Sunday of Lent 10:00 AM Family of +Frederick M Kalisz, Jr Req. Lynn Carvalho

A WORD FROM Pope Francis
I urge the members of the Church to take up the Lenten journey with enthusiasm, sustained by almsgiving, fasting, and prayer. If, at times, the flame of charity seems to die in our own hearts, know that this is never the case in the heart of God! He constantly gives us a chance to begin loving anew.
              LENTEN MESSAGE FOR 2018, NOVEMBER 1, 2017

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