St. Anthony Parish at 485 Grand Avenue, Taylor Mill, KY 41015-1919 US - Home

March 7, 2010
Third Sunday of Lent

From the Desk of the Pastor
The readings for this Sunday of Lent speak of accountability on our journey with God. God instructs Moses to tell the freed Israelites the Divine Name as they began their Exodus out of Egypt. Jesus tells the people the parable of the fig tree, emphasizing the need to bear good fruit. And Paul warns the Corinthians about learning from the examples of past failures. Each of these readings teaches us about accountability in our faith life.

LENT is a particularly good time to take advantage of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In addition to St. Anthony’s regularly scheduled Confessions prior to the 5pm Saturday Mass, I am available for Confessions by appointment.  The Diocese will host regional Communal Penance Services (with individual confession and absolution) in Lent. The Covington Deanery, of which we are part, will have the Penance Service on March 23 at the Cathedral. Service beginning at 7pm.

Diocese of Covington International Missions Needs Combined Collection: Our Faith calls us as Catholics to care for one another, to help Jesus in Disguise. Next weekend, we will conduct the International Mission Needs Collection. Your gifts will reach out to the poorest of the poor throughout the world who are served by Catholic missionaries and international Catholic agencies. Your gift helps support Catholic Relief Services, The Church in Central and Eastern Europe, The Holy Land Collection, the Church in Latin America and the Pontifical Mission Aid Societies.

The Scrutinies are Rites for the Catechumens, now the Elect, who are preparing for Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. The Creed is Presented in order to enlighten the Elect (Lisa Redwine and Greg Goodwin), as it recalls the wonderful deeds of God for our salvation. The Elect are called to commit the Creed to memory, as they will join us in professing it publicly in Mass.

Chrism Mass is the “diocesan Mass par excellance” whereby all parishes and institutions of the local Church are represented and the Holy Oils are blessed and consecrated. It will be celebrate on March 30 at 7pm in the Cathedral. All are welcome and encouraged to attend this wonderful liturgy of the Church.

The Sacred Triduum consists of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil. The Easter Vigil is, according to the Church, “the Mother of all liturgies.” The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (and the Bishop’s strict interpretation thereof) states: The entire celebration of the Easter Vigil takes place at night. It should not begin before nightfall; it should end before daybreak.”  Our Easter Vigil will begin at 8:30pm. It is the most beautiful of all our Liturgies and I encourage you to participate in it. For those of you who were baptized or received into the Church as adults, the Vigil represents a kind of anniversary of your birthday in Christ. What better to celebrate!

Parish Festival is coming soon! St. Anthony has a long tradition of having the “First Summer Festival” of the year, falling on the weekend after Memorial Day. It takes many people to make this a success. More details elsewhere in this week’s bulletin. 

                                                        Fr. Joe