Jesus invites us to enter into a paternal realtionship with God as He hmself had it. Jesus transformed God-people relationship into Father- children relationship. Then He says Father in heaven is concerned about us more than teh earthly father. Our eathly fathers make sure that they give us only what is good for us. The heavenly Father does it more accurately. So what is the good thing we should ask for? First of all, Forgiveness fro teh sins. the greatest gift that restores us to Father- Child relationship like teh in parable of the prodigal son. Secondly, the strength we need to overcome temptations in life. We are to submit our weaknesses to Him and receive His strength to continue as Jesus was strengthened in teh desert. Thirdly, we ask for the grace to see the Will of the Father in everything that happens in life and to grow in faith and trust in Father who knows everything we need.
God was so happy with the Ninevahites repented and changed their ways responding to the call for repentance and He changed His mind. The whole salvation history can be summerized into one word, "repent.' It is nothing but calling out to the Lord from oyur heart by saying, Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness. I am a swinner and these are my sins. A hurtful word. Inattention to someone in need. Failure to honor a commitment. I recognnize that offense, and i am sorry. I realize I've done wrong. Please forgive me. Thus we die to sin. The greatest “sign” we are offered is an invitation to die with Christ so that we can personally begin to experience the new life of the Resurrection. This gift of faith is interior, not publicly exterior. Our death to sin is something we personally and interiorly do, and the new life we receive can only be seen by others by the witness of our lives that are changed. Let us enter into that new life in this Easter.
The Our Father prayer begins by addressing God in a deeply personal way. That is, God is not just an all-powerful cosmic being. He is personal, familial—He is our Father. Jesus continues the prayer by instructing us to honor our Father by proclaiming His holiness, His hallowedness. God and God alone is the Holy One from which all holiness of life derives. As we acknowledge the holiness of the Father, we must also acknowledge Him as King and seek His Kingship for our lives and for the world. This is accomplished only when His perfect will is done “on earth as it is in Heaven.” This perfect prayer concludes by acknowledging that God is the source of all of our daily needs, including the forgiveness of our sins and protection from all evil. Reflect, today, upon this perfect prayer, the Our Father. One temptation is that we can become so familiar with this prayer that we gloss over its true meaning. If that happens, then we will find that we are praying it more like the pagans who simply babble the words. But if we humbly and sincerely understand and mean every word, then we can be certain that our prayer will become more like that of our Lord’s. Saint Ignatius of Loyola recommends pondering every word of that prayer very slowly, one word at a time.
Feast of the Chair of St. Peter the Apostle
The Church has not remained simply because of good leadership all of these years. In fact, corruption and serious internal conflict have been evident within the Church from the beginning. Popes have lived immoral lives. Cardinals and bishops have lived as princes. Some priests have gravely sinned. And many religious orders have struggled with serious internal divisions. But the Church itself, this shining Bride of Christ, this infallible institution still remains and will continue to remain because Jesus guaranteed it. Any failure from the part of church leaders are celebrated by the media today. let us not forget the fact that Jesus didnot promise that every leader of the church will be a saint, but He did promise that “the gates of the netherworld” would not prevail against Her.
In the second part let us reflect on the question Jesus asked. Who do you say that I am? Everybody had their own answers. some said John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Peter said you are the Messiah, son of the living God. We may also have same answer that of Peter or more personal answers. Let us try to ask Christ the same question. Jesus, who do you say that I am? Does Jesus know me teh way I live my life? Let us try to hear the answer of Jesus this lenten season.
FSL in partnership with Maricopa County and City of Peoria is providing assistance for residents of Peoria and surrounding area. Click on what may help you...
Do You Need Assistance with Utilities and live in the Peoria area?
Are you a senior and would like a meal from the senior center?
Do you need food for the family? Come by our pantry and pick up food for you and your family on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6.30pm to 8 pm.
Good Evening! Every family should have gotten my letter addressing the reopening of masses to the public and what is needed from everyone to have a safe environment and enjoyable experience for everyone. As you know, several changes were needed including limiting seating and changing the mass times to allow for the cleaning and disinfecting of the Church between services. The church will open 15 minutes before the scheduled mass time. Until further notices the mass and confession schedules are
Daily Mass: Monday-Friday 8:00am
Saturday Anticipatory Mass: 5:00pm
Sunday: 7:00am English
9:00am Spanish
11:00am English
Confessions
Saturday: 2:30pm to 4:15pm (Enter Church through side ramp entrance and follow directions given by staff)
Diocesan Parishoner Info Sheet English
Diocesan Parishoner Info Sheet Spanish
Letter to the Parish