Jesus tells us of the parable of the fig tree in this weeks Gospel reading. In the reading, the owner of the fig tree wants to cut it down because it is not bearing any fruit, but the gardener cautions the owner not to, because even though the fig tree is not bearing any fruit, it is contributing to the soil and has the possibility of producing fruit in the future. The real lesion is in the gospel questions us by asking how many times do we write someone off for being different, being a sinner or a bad influence? Jesus calls us to remember that everyone who is alive retains the possibility of bearing good fruit in their lives when given the opportunity to do so. Everyone has a pathway to sainthood, and we are call to allow God to have the final judgment.
For 2022, Cardinal DiNardo has assessed our parish DSF goal at $84,000. DSF supports more than 60 ministries and programs that serve the faithful of the Archdiocese and us here at St. Hyacinth. Envelopes are in the narthex or you can go online and give at :https://www.archgh.org/ways-to-give/diocesan-services-fund-dsf/donate-to-dsf/ Thank you in your generosity in supporting DSF 2022.
With the season of lent, we welcome our Friday Fish Fry sponsored by our Knights of Columbus. Those of you who have attended in the past know that this dinner is not to be missed. Every Friday during Lent, from 5-7:30 p.m., the K of Cs will be serving a delicious fish dinner in the Parish Hall.
Also following the Lent Fish dinners, every Friday we will have Stations of the Cross in the church beginning at 7:00 p.m. Due to supply chain issues and shipping, the new Stations has not arrived, however, we have placed up the old stations on the walls of the Church and when these will be replaced once the new stations come in.
STHY will have our annual Lenten Penance Service on Tuesday March 22nd at 7:00 pm in the Religious Education Building Classrooms. We will have multiple priest confessors available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation that night.
Next, please keep in prayer our high school youth who will be having their Confirmation Retreat starting next weekend. Our Faith Formation team consisting of our Director of Faith Formation , Mrs. Pamella Johnson and the Confirmation team have all been working very hard over the past few months to make sure that all the details for the retreat ready for our Confirmandi. Cardinal Danial DiNardo will be the Celebrant for the Confirmation Mass which is scheduled for Spring 2022.
Finally, I want to address and issue that affects the Sunday Weekend Mass in the Church. I understand that there are many reasons for people and families to be late for Mass. However, over the last few months, people have been walking into Mass and seating themselves while the readings and Psalm response are taking place. This action is extremelydistracting for those proclaiming the word and for those already seated. I ask, please; if you are late for Mass, please wait to be seated after the readings for the Mass are completed. We will give you enough time to find a seat.