SCCR Parish Blog

 UPDATED: 9 March  I recommend that you read this analysis of the so-called "Equality Act" which Congress may vote on as early as this week. This is from the National Catholic Register newspaper and is written by the pastorally wise priest of the Archdiocese of Washington, Monsignor Charles Pope. The heads of the committees of the U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference have recently written an open letter to Congress expressing their opposition. It has not gotten much publicity, but is an important potential turning point in the relationship between Church and state.  If it passes, it could pose a serious threat to the religious liberty of many citizens, especially Catholics and other Christians.  How does opposition to religious liberty work?  In practice, through redefining actions and beliefs Christians have held for two millennia as "hate speech" or illegal "discrimination," especially regarding our beliefs about God creating men and women as complementary ...

  Wanted to update you on what we are doing for the special year of St. Joseph that Pope Francis has declared on the 150th anniversary of his being declared the Patron of the Universal Church. We have recently started a men's consecration group in both parishes.  This is a group of men who meet weekly to turn to the guidance and intercession of this very powerful saint and help each other in their mission to be the holiest Christian men, fathers and husbands they can be. If you want to pray on your own instead of in a group, I highly recommend the book Consecration to St. Joseph: the Wonders of Our Spiritual Father   by Fr. Donald Calloway. Either way, we will have a solemn Mass on the feast day of St. Joseph on Fridays, March 19th at St. Peter, followed by the act of consecration and then a cookout for the men of the parish.  (Catholic trivia: On Fridays of Lent that are a solemn feast day, eating meat is allowed).  It is not too late to join if you contact the...

  Fr. Louis Bouyer Most of us know the "drill" for Lent: pray, fast, give alms. But here's a reflection by French priest and writer Fr. Louis Bouyer on why we fast and what spiritual good it does. The gist is that it leads us to deeper life in Christ and to eternal life. This appeared in the current Magnificat devotional magazine, and is from a book entitled Christian Initiation, Michael Hentz, ed. 2018, Cluny media. ==== Christian asceticism never aims at annihilating life in us; on the contrary its purpose is to liberate it. It does not imply any kind of condemnation of the things which it gives up, but simply an absolute preference for the one thing necessary (Lk 10:42)…. [The Christian mortifies himself] always to gain more life. Even when the moment arrives for him to complete his Eucharist, like the martyrs, by offering his own death joined to that of Jesus, he will do it joyfully because he will do it with resurrection in mind. What all asceticism aims at is the de...

  Here are the fasting and abstinence guidelines for American Catholics for the Lenten season (from the U.S. Bishops' Conference). As a reminder, the two fast days are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. These still apply in Covid times for those in the indicated age groups unless there is a medical reason preventing fasting. 

Here are some suggestions from the National Catholic Register (Catholic biweekly newspaper) on how to make a spiritually fruitful Lent and increase your friendship and Communion with God: Detailed guide to Lent (including at-home stations of the Cross): Suggestions for how to observe Lent as a family : A different kind of fasting: Refraining from media uaage

  Today is Shrove Tuesday . Traditionally, it is a day for people to start finalizing the decision on what Lenten penances and spiritual strategies to make, as well as a last chance to indulge in the things you might give up for Lent (like pancakes).   If you're looking for ideas on how to make a good Lent , check out the blogpost. It shouldn't be a drudgery.  Catholics have learned how to have fun with Lenten preparation.  Some cultures (especially the Brits) traditionally had pancake breakfasts and even pancake-flipping races in honor of the day! Traditionally, it was observed by going to confession (hence the name, Shrove , which comes from an old English word meaning to be absolved from one's sins).   Because of the icy weather this year, I didn't offer extra confessions.  Hope to for next year. It is a (sad) sign of our times that people remember the secular part of the day but not the religious.  That's why more people know this as Mar...

  Now that we are about to begin the Lenten season, which begins with Ash Wednesday, a day of fast and abstinence, I thought it might be helpful to read some of these fasting tips from a nutrition graduate student from a local blog. While on that subject, here's a reminder of what the Church requires for Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, the two days of fast and abstinence. And a little taste of the beautiful haunting hymnody of Lent.  Here is the melody for the chant, Again We Keep This Solemn Fast - and the lyrics . 

  Just a reminder regarding cancellation needed for snow, ice, or other inclement weather. Our parish internet calendar is always kept up to date to mark any cancellations, if you are unsure.  This applies to the celebration of Mass and all meetings.  The event will remain on the calendar and be clearly labeled CANCELLED if necessary.  Feel free to bookmark that for easy reference.  The same calendar is avaiable on your smartphone via the My Parish app.  For those without the internet, we also try to list cancellations on our information line (extension 7 when you call the parish office) -- but sometimes that takes a little longer. We no longer follow the former parish policy of cancelling all parish events when school is cancelled for the day in the local school district.  There are many days when it is only unsafe early in the morning when the school buses are out. 

  St. Jose Sanchez del Rio Today is the feast of St. Scholastica.  Perhaps more about her later. It is also the feast day of a heroic Mexican teenager named Jose del Rio. About 100 years ago, the government there turned severely against the Church and the faithful Catholic men rose up in resistance to their attempt to destroy her.  Courageous young Jose (only 14 years old) was part of that movement.  He wanted desperately to fight in the resistance with his older brothers, but was too young. But he did engage in the ultimate spiritual warfare.  When the Mexican government tried to force him to renounce Christ, he refused and withstood threats and torture, staying faithful to Christ to the last. You can read more about him here and here . In our own times, sharing a common heritage with our neighbors to the South and a common border, our government is becoming more like early 20th-century Mexico's than we might like to admit.  It is worth studying the life a...

  Brian Holdsworth I am a big fan of a Canadian blogger named Brian Holdsworth.  He is a very bright young man who is a convert to Catholicism and is clearly in touch with the youth of the Church and what will be necessary for the faith to thrive in the next generation.  His thoughtful commentary is worth considering in  a time when membership in the Church is in dramatic decline, especially among the millennial and post-millennial generations. Here's a sample of one of his videos, regarding the cost of the faith and the danger of watering it down. He is prodigious in his production (his "day job" is to run a tech company) so here is just a smattering of some of his other videos well worth watching Why I became Catholic Why liturgy matters Liturgy: Your taste doesn't matter Why the youth want tradition We need better music at Mass Why you should have kids ... and lots of them  (he practices what he preaches!) Needless to say, he is quite countercultural.  ...

  Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone is the ordinary (reigning bishop) of the Archdiocese of San Francisco.  Each year, in commemoration of the gravely unjust Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision of January 22, 1973 , they hold a Walk for Life to witness to the sacredness of life.  This runs near the same time as the annual March for Life in Washington, DC.   That walk was held this year, even though the larger event in Washington was virtual-only for the first time.  He is a staunch defender of the Gospel of Life and preached an excellent homily for those many thousands attending the event. It covers mission and the history of the faith in the Americas.  Well worth reading. Here is a version of that in written form , published on the website of the First Things journal of religion and public life.