From Father George's Desk 3/21/26

On this Fifth Sunday of Lent, we are called to focus more directly on our preparation for the coming observance of Holy Week, especially the Sacred Triduum of Our Lord’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection.  It is in the liturgies of Holy Week that we as a Catholic Christian people share and celebrate our story—the awesome gift of our redemption and salvation through the Paschal Mystery.  This annual commemoration of the central mystery of our faith is the highpoint of the entire Church year and our liturgies of Holy Week are meant to be an expression of the seriousness with which we take these coming days.  May our reflection on the beautiful mystery of our faith help us, in these final days of our Lenten journey, to be prepared for the coming commemoration of our Passover from death to life through the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of the one who has come to draw      everyone to himself.  That commemoration begins next weekend with our observance of Palm Sunday, which leads us into the holiest days of the year.  Please plan now to be present and participate in the liturgies of this sacred time as much as possible. 

And, if you have not yet made it to the Sacrament of Reconciliation this Lent, please note: there are two more scheduled opportunities celebrate the sacrament this week:

¨ On Wednesday evening Bishop Kulick will host an Evening of Reflection at St. Vincent Basilica. The program begins at 6:00PM with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, a reflection from the bishop, and the opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. A number of priests will be available to hear confessions that evening.

¨ The final Regional Penance Service of the Lenten Season will be next Saturday morning, March 28, at 11:00AM at St. John. Please note that this is last scheduled opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Easter; there are no individual confessions scheduled at either Holy Family or St. John next weekend.

Due to delays in the Diocesan Development Office, the first mailing for the 2026 Diocesan Lenten Appeal has been late in arriving in our mailboxes.  Unfortunately, that also means there hasn’t been an opportunity to let you know what our plans are for our parishes’ shares.

¨ Holy Family’s parish goal this year is $130,000.  This will allow us to do our fair share for the diocesan campaign and return over $51,000 to the parish which will allow us to upgrade the locks on the doors of the church and rectory to a more secure electronic system and to repair the small handicapped lift in the Divine Artwork Center.

¨ St. John’s parish goal this year is $44,000.  This will allow us to do our fair share for the diocesan campaign and return over $12,000 to the parish which will allow us to upgrade the handicap entrance into our parish hall and address some of the other deteriorating entry doors into our parish center.

Thanks to everyone who has already made a pledge or gift to this year’s appeal.  Please prayerfully consider your pledge or gift to this year’s DLA in the coming days.  You may return your pledge or gift by mail, in person during office hours, or drop it in the collection basket.  You can also make your pledge online by clicking on the “Donate” link on our parish website or by visiting the diocesan website, www.dioceseofgreensburg.org.

This Wednesday, in the midst of our final full week of Lent, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. I have always found it significant that the Annunciation, a feast celebrating the Mystery of the Incarnation, is celebrated in the midst of the Lent-Easter cycle, which focuses out attention on the Paschal Mystery.  We are reminded of how intimately linked these two great mysteries of our faith actually are.  Jesus Christ is fully divine and fully human.  The Only Begotten Son takes on flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary to reconcile us to God in his Passion, Death, and Resurrection.  Without surrendering his divinity Jesus takes on the fullness of humanity—subject to sin, temptation, pain, and suffering just like us.  But by complete obedience to the Father’s will, he pays our ransom from sin and death in his death on the cross and gives us the hope and assurance of salvation in his resurrection.