This week at Holy Spirit Parish, we have our sights firmly fixed on the coming season of Lent. The church, in her wisdom, does not wait until Ash Wednesday to present us with the Lenten disciplines; if we look carefully at our liturgy, the prayers and readings over these next weeks will begin to lead us into the desert so that on March 2nd we will find ourselves well prepared for the holy season of fasting, prayer, and alms-giving. This Sunday, Our Lord gives us "The Beatitudes" as one way of framing our annual itinerary of conversion. May the coming season of Lent be a time of emptying out of the earthly rewards which pass away, and a time of expectation for the great rewards which await us in heaven.

Religious Education & Sacramental Preparation

Religious Education
Regular class will be held next Wednesday, Feb. 16th at 6:30pm in the Cathedral Center.

Confirmation Preparation
Our next class will this Sunday, February 13th at 9:15am in the Sacred Heart church basement. Confirmation sponsors are encouraged to attend with the candidate. Please contact Cassie at dbq059ff@dbqarch.org if you have any questions.

Music & Liturgical Ministry

February-April 10^th, Lent 2022.  The schedule for February Ordinary Time, Lent through Palm Sunday is now live. I have posted the schedule virtually via email and hardcopies may be found in the Sacristy, back of each church, and the parish office.
 
Ash Wednesday will be Wednesday, March 2^nd.    
Mass Times: 7:30 AM @ SH, 12:10 pm @ HG, and 5:30 pm @ HT (*6:30 pm Religious Education Mass will take place at the Cathedral of St. Raphael).

Filled and unfilled positions are found in the normal schedule. Please let me know if you are available to fill any un-filled position. Thank you for your continued ministry!

Archdiocesan News and Events
Click the links in each description for more information!

ArchdioceseOne
ArchdioceseOne is a special appeal for sacraficial giving from the Archdiocese to help the poor and to support the mission of the church.

Synod Survey on Parish Vitality
Pope Francis has directed the Synod of Bishops to spend two years focusing on the nature of synodality itself, that is, of listening to God and to each other; the Holy Father wishes that dioceses around the world participate.

Our Archdiocese will participate in this exercise by asking everyone to complete a survey on the theme of parish vitality. We can all help to answer the question "what does a vibrant parish look like?"

Archdiocese of Dubuque Men's Conference
The 2022 Men's Conference will feature Mark Hartfiel and Devin Schadt, as well as Archbishop Jackels as the celebrant at Mass. The conference will take place on Saturday, March 19th from 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM at Xavier Catholic High School (6300 42nd St NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52411) with virtual participation available via live-stream. This is the Feast of St. Joseph and the day will be focused on reflecting on St. Joseph's role in our lives.