SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17

5:00 PM James Stich William Foote

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18

9:00 AM Kevin Oates Marilyn Oates 10:30 AM Kathleen Marshall 12:00 PM Anne Segarra ________________________________________________________________________

7:30 AM LENTEN MORNING MASS added MONDAY - THURSDAY

DAILY MASS FEBRUARY 19-23 at 9:00 AM

MONDAY Ken Gold

TUESDAY Mary Finnan WEDNESDAY Donald Manning

THURSDAY Mary Greco FRIDAY Robert Ross

_________________________________________________________________________

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24

5:00 PM Helen Larson

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25

9:00 AM Dana Gold Sherman 10:30 AM John Whyard 12:00 PM Eric Rodriguez _________________________________________________________________________

FEBRUARY 18, 2018 FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

SCRIPTURE READINGS

First Reading: Genesis 9:8-15 God made a promise to Noah that he would never again devastate the entire planet with a flood. He also told Noah that the symbol of this promise would be a rainbow in the clouds.

Second Reading: 1 Peter 3:18-22 This letter from Peter reminds all people that Christ died for us so that we might be led to God. We have been saved by our baptism; not a physical cleansing, but a promise to continually strive to obey God.

Gospel: Mark 1:12-15 Mark briefly tells of Jesus’ stay in the desert, where he was tested by Satan. He did not give in to temptation, but reappeared in Galilee to proclaim the good news.

Mass Intentions for the Week

Love and generosity start here at home. We are grateful for your faithful stewardship which sustains the life of our parish, supports our outreach and ministries. Thank you for your gift of treasure and commitment to do God’s work here at Good Shepherd.

COLLECTION BREAKDOWN LAST WEEK:

Envelopes: $7,606.50 232 families/$32.79 average Not using Envelopes: 959.00 Regular Collection: $8,565.50 2nd Collection: $2,013.00 (Parish Maintenance)

ADORATION of the BLESSED SACRAMENT

Friday, March 2 • 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM (Chapel)

Please sign up on the posted sheet on the bulletin board so all hours are covered.

PRIESTS MASS SCHEDULE - FEBRUARY

5:00 PM 9:00 AM 10:30 AM 12:00 PM 17-18 Fr. Michal Fr. Tim Fr. Tim Fr. Michal 24-25 Fr. Tim Fr. Ed Fr. Michal Fr. Tim

SCRIPTURE REFLECTION meets every Tuesday with Fr. Tim • 9:30 - 11:00 AM (Chapel)

Read the upcoming Sunday Scriptures • Reflect • Discuss

1) In this story, why did God flood the earth?

2) Why did Christ suffer?

3) Why do you think the spirit sent Jesus into the desert?

Parish offices CLOSED Monday, Feb. 19

Lent, often described as a journey, is the opportunity for all to come closer to the Lord. In a baptismal sermon, Peter tells us that the suffering of Christ, which we recall during these days of prayer, has but one purpose - to lead us to God. It is the work of the Lord, bringing us on our desert journey. The gospel tells us Jesus was led by the Spirit for His desert experience to announce that the kingdom is at hand.

God’s word spoke of a special moment in time, a moment which speaks to us today. Lent is that special time for us to meet the Lord in a new and different way. Through the threefold steps of prayer, sacrifice and good works, the kingdom becomes more present. Our journey began on Ash Wednesday. Where is the Spirit leading you? (Source: “His Word Today”, Bon Venture Services)

MARTHA MARY LAZARUS Bereavement Ministry

“Seasons of Hope” Sundays, 1:00-2:30 PM (Chapel) February 18 Christ’s Example February 25 No Tears

March 4 The Fathers House March 11 Betrayal March 18 Suffering

Fridays of Lent February 23 • 7:00 PM

Thank you to Fr. Ed for his presentation last Sunday on “The Basics of Drug Abuse and Addiction”, the first session of three he is presenting to help build awareness of this ever growing problem related to drug use. Next presentation:

Drug Abuse and Addiction in the Family Sunday, February 25 • 1:30 PM

(Holy Trinity Room)

Please mark you calendars and join Fr. Ed.

seek SILENCE by . . .

enjoying the outdoors on a nature trail, in our Prayer Garden or at our Blessed Mother Peace Grotto - spend some quiet time alone to pray and contemplate the beauty of God’s creation

spend some time at home as a family with TV’s, iPhones, computers turned off for an hour; share a quiet meal together

Think beyond the “obvious” Lenten sacrifices - seek SILENCE

Catholics can make the most of their time of preparation for Easter, by thinking past the obvious things to “give up” and by seeking times of SILENCE. (Source: Denver Archbishop Chaput, via Catholic News Agency)

If we are going to cultivate the value of silence in our lives, however, it will take more than just silencing our voices. We also have to silence our minds from time to time by unplugging from the 24-hour cycles of news, entertainment and social media so we have the “mental space” to rejuvenate ourselves and reflect more deeply on our lives, our relationships and the world around us. (Source: The Catholic Spirit)

Create some time every day - even just an hour - to eliminate all the distracting noise of life so your spirit will naturally begin to grow. Turning it all off will automatically result in deeper and clearer thinking and that interior quiet can very easily lead us to God. (Denver Archbishop Chaput)

Enrich your spiritual life during this Lenten season, by adding more time for silence, prayerful meditation and reflection.

PRAY

FAST

GIVE

HOSPITALITY SUNDAY - Thank you to all who joined in at last weekend’s Hospitality Sunday, after the 9:00 & 10:30 AM Masses. It was a great opportunity for fellowship, coffee and . . .

Our special thanks to the Hospitality Ministry:

Hugh and Bea Rush - Coordinators Anna-Marie and Jim Kelly • Rosemarie Specht

Anna Zamora • Irene Finnan Ann Annichiarico • Pat Beaulieu • Mary Kuduk

BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASS 2nd Saturday of each month, at 10:00 AM:

March 10 / April 14 / May 12 / June 9

For more information, contact the parish office.

As of today, there are only a few tickets ($30.00pp) remaining for the St. Patrick’s/St. Joseph’s Fest. Please contact the parish office asap to check for availability and to purchase on a first come basis.

• MARK YOUR CALENDARS •

Sunday, March 4 • Pancake Breakfast following the 9:00 and 10:30 AM Masses $3.00 adult / $2.00 child / $10.00 family

Saturday and Sunday, March 10-11 • all Masses • Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick healing, offering strength to body, mind and spirit

• Blessing of Expectant Parents

Feb. 24-25 • 2nd Collection - Diocesan Assessment • there is an envelope in your packets •

Faith Formation Notes

Please join us on Friday,

February 23rd at 7:00pm

in the church as we walk

the “Way of the Cross”

guided by our Faith For-

mation students in grades

1 through 8.

Confirmation students will

lead the parish on Friday,

March 2nd at 7:00pm for

Stations of the Cross.

Faith Formation students in grades five and six posing for a group

photo after participating in the noon Mass. Great job!

Visit the website for more photos at www.goodshepherdrc.org

Thank you to

Mrs. Allison Holdt for

updating the Faith

Formation bulletin

board with the

changing liturgical

seasons and doing

such a wonderfully

creative job! Ash Wednesday grilled cheese and tomato soup fellowship meal hosted by

our Confirmation students. Please go to the website for more photos.

7:30 AM Lenten Morning Mass added Monday - Thursday (9:00 AM Morning Mass celebrated Monday - Friday)

Sacrament of Reconciliation - Confessions “Welcome Home to Healing” Mondays • 7:00 - 8:30 PM • individual confessions on a walk-in basis • (Confessions also on Saturdays, 4:00 - 5:00 PM)

Abstinence from meat on all Fridays by Catholics 14 years and older

Stations of the Cross Fridays • 7:00 PM (each week the Stations will be led by a different person or group, using varied devotional guides)

Lenten Bible Study The Passion and Resurrection of Jesus from the four Gospels, a 7-week study/2 sessions beginning Tues., Feb. 20 and Thurs., Feb. 22 (Study topic, dates and times listed below)

Lent is a time to change our direction, to clear our souls of distractions that obstruct our view of God and keeps our hearts restless and empty.

Let us pray for one another, that in this Lenten Season we may return to the Lord wholeheartedly!

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

The Stations of the Cross allow us to reflect upon Jesus’ suffering, Death and Resurrection.

Each Friday during Lent, we will gather at 7:00 PM in the church for this Catholic Lenten devotion that commemorates Jesus Christ’s last day on earth as a man. We will walk togeth-er through the 14 devotions, or stations that focus on specific events of His last day, beginning with His condemnation.

Our mini-pilgrimage will be led each week by a different indi-vidual or group and prayed in a traditional or non-traditional

format: Feb. 23 - Faith Formation children March 2 - Confirmation students

Please join us each week as part of this prayerful preparation as we journey together through Lent.

LENTEN SCHEDULE

Catholics do three things to grow closer to God during Lent: pray, fast and give to those in need - the three pillars of Lenten spirituality.

Pray - we pray to ask God for guidance on how to live our lives; we also thank God for the gifts he has given us, and we pray for those who have less than we do.

Fast - we give something up to help us to recognize the difference between wants and needs. Choosing to live without something we like reminds us that everything we have is a gift from God.

Give - when we give to those who have less than we do, we honor Jesus’ call to serve our neighbors; we share the gifts we’ve been given.

As we continue our 40-day journey, we ask God to bless us and to strengthen us

in our prayer, fasting and giving throughout this holy season.

YOUR LENTEN JOURNEY

Jesus asks us to remember those who are in need and to GIVE generously. Even if you donate 1 item per day for 40 days you will make a difference!

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

Reconciliation (Confession) is a Sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ in His love and mercy to offer sinners for-giveness for offenses committed against God and the Church.

Every time we sin, we hurt ourselves, other people and God. In Reconciliation, we acknowledge our sins before God and His Church, make reparation for what we have done and resolve to do better in the future.

Experience the gracious mercy of God’s love through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Welcome Home to Healing throughout Lent.

Mondays • 7:00 - 8:30 PM

LENTEN BIBLE STUDY Presider: Deacon Keith

Enrich your Lenten experience with a Bible Study on "The Passion and Resurrection Narratives of Jesus", taken from each of the four Gospels. Study 1: The Passion according to the Gospel of Mark Tuesday, February 20 • 1:00 - 2:30 PM Thursday, February 22 • 7:30 - 9:00 PM

(St. Joseph’s Room)

Sign up sheet on the bulletin board in the atrium. Materials will be distributed at the first meeting.