Annunciation Parish
@
Saint Gabriel Church
February 28, 2016
Pastors Thoughts
With this Third Sunday of the Lenten Season we are approaching already the midpoint of our Lenten efforts. How are we doing? Have kept working on our Lenten sacrifices, maintained our Lenten resolutions, made any progress in those virtues or been better at avoiding those vices we have made a special focus on this Lent? Or have we already lost sight of them? Have we begun to cut corners, or begun to stumble a bit? The conversion and spiritual renewal of Lent is all about persevering! That doesn’t necessarily mean that we accomplish our Lenten goals perfectly right from the onset - this isn’t a competition for a prize! It is about learning what will make us better followers of Christ and holier people - so we start at a point of being imperfect and strive for that which is better. Even if its tough going and only imperfectly realized, we still seek to continue towards our goals. Acquiring the habit of pursuing growth in goodness, love and grace despite weakness and occasional failures, is really the best lesson of all. We still have several weeks of Lent left to us. If we have fallen off our practices or begun to slow our efforts, lets revive ourselves. Get to confession again if you must. However, persevere in your trying! God loves all His children who never give up trying, for that is the true expression of where their heart lies! So keep going!
PRIESTS AWAY THIS WEEK
This week all of our Oblate priests, Fr. Finn, Fr. Dan and Fr. Victor will be heading to San Francisco for a special meeting of all the Oblates of St. Joseph in America. Every three years they are required to meet as an entire province of the Order to elect new provincial officers and set policies for the next three years. Please support them with your prayers in this important occasion in their religious Order. We are also grateful for the priests of Holy Name Parish, West Hazleton who will be coming this week to celebrate the daily Masses.
PARISH HAPPENINGS
LENTEN SERIES WITH FR. DAN: Fr. Dan’s Lenten Class on Church Encyclicals will be suspended this week but will continue on Tues. March 8 at 7pm. He will discuss the Church’s teachings and their meaning and importance for our lives, with a special emphasis on Pope Francis’ latest Encyclical “Laudato si” on the Christian responsibility to care for Creation.
PARISH STATIONS OF THE CROSS will be held in English at 11:30am every Friday and in Spanish at 7pm every Friday.
CONFESSIONS: Confessions are heard Monday thru Friday at 11:45am and also every Monday(evening Except Feb. 29) from 6-7:30pm.
MONTHLY HEALING SERVICE OF EUCHARISTIC ADORATION & HEALING PRAYERwill be moved from Thursday March 3 to Thursday March 10, just for this month. Confessions start at 6:30pm, Rosary at 6:45pm, and Service at 7pm.
EASTER FLOWER MEMORIALS: If you are interested in having a memorial for a loved one, fill out the back of your FLOWER ENVELOPE IN YOUR MONTHLY PACKET. Donation is $15.00
FIRST PENANCE
This weekend, on Saturday FEBRUARY 27, our Parish celebrated the First Penance of nearly 50 children. Please keep these young people in your prayers as they experience this wonderful gift of the Mercy of God and as they now enter into their final preparation for their First Communion.
LENTEN FISH FRY
HOLY FAMILY ACADEMY will be sponsoring a Lenten Fish Fry on Friday, March 4 2016 from 3:00 to 6:30 PM in the school cafeteria.
The menu includes:
Baked Cod @ $11.00
Breaded Haddock @ $ 10.00
Breaded Shrimp @ $ 10.00
Breaded Scallops @ $ 11.00
Deviled Crab @ $ 11.00
Breaded Combo @ $ 11.00
Pierogies (6) @ $6.00
Macaroni & Cheese @ $6.00
All meals include – Roll, French Fries or Baked Potato, Coleslaw, Green Beans, Drink & Sherbet Eat In or Take Out call the school office @ 570-455-9431
2016 SECOND ANNUAL CATHOLIC MEN’S CONFERENCE
“Be A Man: Jesus Christ, The Face of True Manhood”
April 23, 2016
@
King’s College, Scandlon Physical Ed Center
Main Street, Wlkes Barre PA 18701
Experience a prayerful, spirit filled, life changing day featuring keynote presentations by Catholic biblical scholar, professor and conference speaker Dr. Scott Hahn from Stebenville, Ohio, well known blogger Msgr. Charles Pope from the Archdiocese of Washington DC, and former Notre Dame football player Michael McGlinn.
Reconciliation opportunities with many priests available for confessions.
The Most Reverend Bishop Joseph Bambera will celebrate closing Mass.
Eucharistic Adoration 6:00 AM, Registration/Continental Breakfast 7:00 AM, with main conference and Mass from 8:00 am to 2:45 pm
Cost: $35.00, $30.00 early bird, $15.00 for students
Register on line:
MASS INTENTIONS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29th FRIDAY, MARCH 4TH
7:00 AM Poor Souls in Purgatory 7:00 AM Kathryn Sandrock…Family
12:10 PMSpecial Intention 12:10 PM M/M Joseph Zogby…Family
TUESDAY, MARCH 1ST SATURDAY, MARCH 5TH
7:00 AM Tammy Kress….Mom 8:00 AM Kathy Dufallo….Family
12:10 PM John & Marie Kapes 4:00 PM Jack Gunzerath…Family
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2ND SUNDAY, MARCH 6TH
7:00 AM BD’s M/M Richard Magula… 7:30 AM Frank & Marie Burns….
Loving Sister, Lorraine M/M James Burns
12:10 PM Living/Deceased of Monahan Fam. 10:15 AM Charles Begia…M/M Peter
THURSDAY, MARCH 3RD Kovalick
7:00 AM M/M Frank McNelis, Sr. 12:00 PM Josefa Abreu..Grandchildren
12:10 PM Blessings on Gavin Zakarevicz…. & Son
Parents, Joseph & Monica 5:30 PM Jennie Broton…Karen & Syl
7:00 PM Special Intention