Welcome to St. Boniface Church

SHEPHERD`S NOTES

March 7, 2010 

Third Sunday of  Lent ~ Reflection 
The first two events reported in this Sunday’s gospel involve tragic death, and Jesus makes absolute that unless we repent, we also will die. Then in the parable of the fig tree, Jesus reveals the patience of God with us, despite our slowness to repent. How merciful is our God! This is God’s work of mercy: to take what is almost dead and bring it to new life. This our work of repentance: to turn from sinfulness toward God’s transforming mercy. 

Announcing Lenten Penance Services ~ The PSR and Steeple People Penance Service will be held on Wednesday, March 10 @ 6:45 PM.   Please note there will not be Mass on that evening. Parish School Penance Service is Thursday, March 18 @ 8:45 AM. Two combined Parish Penance Services will be held on Sunday, March 21 @ 2 PM @ Saint Cecilia Church and Tuesday, March 23 @ 7 PM @ St. Mary’s. The RCIA will celebrate the Sacrament of Penance on Tuesday, March 30 @ 6:30 PM in the Church. 

Steeple People Event ~ “Our most excellent and righteous” high school youth will meet this Sunday (tonight) in the lower level @ 6:30 PM - BODY BUILDING FOR THE SOUL: Avoiding Temptation! Yours truly is the presenter. All high school youth are asked to bring a dozen cookies or a bag of chips - food for the body and energy for the soul! 

Goals for Lent! ~ Arrive Early - Don’t leave early, Attend daily Mass, Attend Stations of the Cross, Pray for RCIA candidates and catechumens, Read the bulletin, Catholic Times, and weekly and Sunday Scripture Readings.

Coming Soon - Big Bona Giveaway - $15,000 is the grand prize for this annual fundraiser for Catholic Education. The $50 tickets will once again include the popular “buy 2 get 1 free!” Only 2,000 tickets will be sold. ($1,000 to benefit FMCHS) 

Coming soon ~ the new Alotta Bona Cash ~ $50,000 is the grand prize for this 50/50 drawing. Only 100 tickets are available @ $1,000 a piece. Great odds for a great cause! ($1,000 to benefit FMCHS) More details coming in the future. 

2010 Pastoral Plan Planning Values ~ The following is a listing of the values outlined by the Diocesan Parish Pastoral Planning committee to guide all parishes in the process. Individual parishes and Regional planning groups are asked to reflect on these values and to incorporate them into their deliberations. 
~ We believe that the Holy Spirit is leading the planning process.
~ The support and nurture of a healthy, viable parish is paramount to our efforts. It is important to have a vision of what we want in parish life.  
~ Every effort should be made to keep weekend Mass available and central to our planning efforts.
~ Where there is a decrease in the number of priests to serve a given area, every effort should be made to maintain the number of salaried positions by hiring professional ministers to provide ministry.
~ Planning should include proposals for the recruitment, formation, affirmation and support of priests, deacons, religious, professional lay ministers, and volunteers for ministry in our parishes. 
~ It is assumed that all proposals for the future will be faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church, i.e. ordination of married men and women.
~ Every parish in one way or another is to have a pastor assigned to it or a parish life coordinator with priest moderator. 
~ Every effort should be made to provide opportunities for all members of the parish to be aware of and involved in the planning process.
~ Each priest should not “say” more than four weekend Sunday Masses.