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Contents: Fr. George, Seminarian Andrew, Stations of the Cross, Almsgiving, Marathon, Religious Education, Parish Updates, Reflection, Mass Intentions, Job Opportunity
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An Message from Fr. George
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The Joy of Lent
The word Lent originates from the Middle English "lente" meaning springtime. We may ask ourselves, is there really joy in Lent? Where can we find the joy in penance, fasting and abstinence when all of these relates more to suffering? As a season it is a moment of light and hope. It is a opportunity for growth and renewal. After the cold and dark of winter, there comes the gradual greening of the fields and glowing of the surroundings! Life is back again!
The forty days of Lent are moments of growth. We are called to discern, our penance and fasting leads us to a realizing maturity in our spiritual life. Truly, it is a process to knowing who we are and where we are and deepening our relationship with God.
May this Lenten Season brings us forth to renewal and true conversion. Let us walk together as brothers and sisters in the Lord.
One with you in the Lenten journey,
Fr George
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Andrew C. reads the Word of God as Fr. George leads the burning of last year's palms to create the ashes for Ash Wed.
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Do not say, “I am too young.”
The Lord spoke these words when he called Jeremiah as a prophet. (C.f. Jer 1:1-10) These words also served as the theme for the Diocese’s first ever middle school level discernment retreat this last Saturday, Jeremiah Days, which I had the joy of helping to organize. The retreat brought together 18 boys from across the Hampton Roads region who might have interest in the priesthood for a day of prayer, formation, and fraternity. Together we learned about discipleship and the universal call to holiness, the vocation of the priesthood, and prayer. The aim of such retreats is to help form the boys and young men of our diocese into mature Christian men and intentional disciples who are ready to follow the Lord in whatever vocation to which they are called. Our hope also is that some of these young men will thus be well disposed to discern the priesthood and enter seminary formation.
Please continue to pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, deaconate, and consecrated religious life. If you are interested in upcoming discernment events or discernment in general check out https://richmondvocations.org or ask your friendly neighborhood seminarian.
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Each Friday during the Lenten Season we will be holding Stations of the Cross, "The Stations of the Cross are a 14-step Catholic devotion that commemorates Jesus Christ's last day on Earth as a man. The 14 devotions, or stations, focus on specific events of His last day, beginning with His condemnation." (https://www.catholic.org/prayers/station.php)
Stations of the Cross will be held at 6:00 PM and afterward there will be a soup supper in the Fellowship Hall.
Please note, March 17th our parish will be hosting PORT, so the stations will be Outdoors (weather permitting) and there will be no meal afterwards.
Fridays during Lent are days of Abstinence from meat for those aged 14 and above.
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Lenten Almsgiving Project
Little Angels Orphanage in Hyderabad, India
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Online Giving Link: https://www.givecentral.org/location/605/event/36613
My name is Steve Taylor, I’m providing an overview of this year’s Lenten offering that begins this week and continues through 9 April. This year we have the opportunity, to once again, support Sister Mary and her Little Angels Orphanage in Hyderabad, India.
St. Jerome previously supported this orphanage in 2018, the Knights of Columbus in 2022 and the Jayne and I over the past 10 years, to include three visits; most recently, last month. I was asked to participate in the ribbon cutting of the expansion of the orphanage, which was necessary to comply with new national and state COVID requirements.
The ribbon cutting and a Mass signified the end of construction but the children will not come until June to coincide with the school year. Prior to this, there is much to do and significant financial need to be truly ready to support the increased number of children; going from 10 to approximately 22 children. The children will consist of true orphans and semi-orphans, which is defined as having one parent but insufficient resources to fully support their child, especially their education.
To accommodate the new Covid type requirements, three additional floors were added and Sister had to prayerfully take out a personal loan and get assistance from just a couple of donors to make that happen. The high interest loan is still outstanding and there are insufficient funds for this and to cover this year’s operating expenses for food, medical costs, new beds, utilities and tuition for St. Peter’s Catholic school. There is great need, with great reward; Jayne and I have seen first-hand these needy children flourish in this loving, close knit and family supported environment.
I’ll be in back today, this weekend and hopefully in the coming weeks to answer any questions you have or to provide additional insight into what makes Little Angels special. Thank you for your attention and generous contributions. You can contact me at 757-869-2952
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Sunday, March 5th, is the One City Marathon. The marathon results in closures of Denbigh Blvd. and nearby roads, meaning there will be no 7:00 AM or 9:00 AM Mass. The Mass intentions for those liturgies will be moved to the Noon Mass.
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Religious Education Corner
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Lenten Chats with Andrew Clark
Beginning This Sunday February 26th, adults are invited to Lenten Chats with Seminarian Andrew Clark in the Faith and Life Classroom building. The chats coincide with Sunday School, beginning at 10:15 and ending at 11:45.
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Middle and High School Lock-In
The Middle and High School lock-in begins Friday, February 24th at 8:00 PM and lasts through 8:00 AM the next morning. We are in great need of adult volunteers to facilitate. Email Margie if you can help! Her email is margie@stjeromennva.org
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Mom and Me
The next Mom and Me group is meeting Monday, February 27th from 9:00 AM to Noon in the Nursery. All are invited!
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Women's Retreat: The 7 Sorrow of Mary
A Women’s Retreat is scheduled for March 24- 26 at Chanco Retreat Center. RSVP by 5 March if interested in attending. Cost is $80
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There will be a Small Scripture Study for Men starting in April. Anyone interested in joining a small group bible study is welcome to join. Thursday evenings from 6:30 – 7:30 at a parishioners home. Contact Margie (margie@stjeromennva.org) for more information.
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PORT
Port, in which our parish host the local homeless, is from March 15- March 22. if you have any interest in volunteering to support the destitute among us, please email margie@stjeromennva.org.
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Funeral Mass for Linda Mikovitz
The Funeral Mass for Linda Mikovitz will be at St. Kateri Catholic Church at 11:00 AM on March 2nd. There will be a viewing from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM that day.
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Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Adoration will be held Thursday, March 2nd following the 8:00 AM Mass. The Regional Reconciliation is that night, so Adoration will end at 5:00 PM. |
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2,000 Hail Mary Devotional
Friday, March. 3rd, the 2,000 Hail Mary Devotional will take place following the Daily Mass
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Changes to the Order of Penance
Beginning on Ash Wednesday the Order of Penance (Confession/Reconciliation) will undergo some subtle changes. We will endeavor to have handouts available for all those attending reconciliation at our parish, but be on the lookout as these changes are across the entirety of the United State of America.
These changes are a result of an improved translation of Ordo Poenitentiae initially introduced in 1975.
You can view the full text of the Order of Penance here: https://fdlc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/FDLC-Resource-2-full_sheet-Order_of-Penance.pdf
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Our Lenten Reconciliation Service will be Thursday, March 2nd at 7:00 PM. Mark your Calendar Today!
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4 Reasons Catholics Must Give Alms This Lent
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What are alms? Why must we give them? Am I supposed to go broke for Jesus?
Fr. Mike Schmitz encourages us to be charitable this Lent, emphasizing how almsgiving is a foundational part of living the Faith. In being joyful givers, we imitate Christ, who became poor for our sake, and we show our gratitude for God’s grace. These are just a few of the reasons Fr. Mike offers in this video as to why we should exercise almsgiving according to our means.
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February 28 – March 5, 2023
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
- 7:00 AM – No Mass - Marathon (Moved to Noon)
- 9:00 AM – No Mass - Marathon (Moved to Noon)
- 12:00 PM – Eddy Creamer, Frances Dale Mullen, Fr. Eugene Alvestaffer, Fr. Mike Hanna, and Fr. Stan Martinra
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