Lenten Season

Lenten Opportunities

Dear Missionary Disciples in Jesus Christ,

I thought I would write you a letter listing all the opportunities for Lent and give you our Easter schedules. Let this letter also serve as an invitation to return to Assumption and/or SFB Parishes, if you have been away. You are most welcome to come home.

As always, the Season of Lent is a time of penance. We have many opportunities for you to experience and know the love and mercy of our Lord. If you have been away from the Church or if you have missed a Sunday or Holy Day of Obligation without a serious reason, then you will need to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation before receiving the Eucharist. Confessions are held at both parishes; see the bulletin for details. During Lent, on March 15 at 7:00 p.m., we are pleased to open SFB for a combined evening of Reconciliation. During this penance service with Our Lady of Lourdes as well as our two Parishes, there will be several priests available.

There will be Stations of the Cross on every Friday of Lent at 6:30 p.m. at Assumption and at 7:00 p.m. at Borgia. We have little black prayer books for daily prayer and meditation. As we move further into Lent, the churches are open for you to spend some time in the presence of Jesus; he is always here in the tabernacle.

The Easter Triduum is the culmination of the entire liturgical year. It begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, April 2. These Masses at both Parishes are at 7:00 p.m. Good Friday Celebration of The Passion of the Lord is 3:00 p.m. at Borgia and 7:00 p.m. at Assumption.

Easter Vigil times are pending the Office of Worship at the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Easter continues into Easter Sunday—April 5. Our celebrations will be at 7:00 and 9:00 a.m. at SFB and at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. at Assumption. (There will be no 6:00 p.m. Mass)

Please come and pray with and for your fellow parishioners. My hope and prayer is that this season will be an opportunity for grace and a time to grow in the love of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Please call me if I can help you in any way during this Lenten Season.

Peace, Father Maassen

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Dear Missionary Disciples of Jesus Christ, Before you hit send, is this an act of love? Before you say what you are about to say, is this an act of love? This is especially true on e-mails and social media. There are countless scripture quotes on how to treat other people, your neighbor, and even your enemies. “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you" Luke 6:27. "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you... For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?” Matt 5:44. "And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them" Luke 6:31. There are many more Scripture passages on how we are to treat our neighbor and even our enemies. Jesus does not condition loving anyone on whether we agree with them on any issue. Jesus does not condition any of these commands on whether we are angry or not. Jesus’ commands are unconditional. As Catholics, as missionary disciples of Jesus Christ, we are to rise above our anger and disagreements and treat one another with love. This does not mean we have to agree. It does mean we are to love. I also encourage you to talk face-to-face with someone you are angry with or disagree with; this takes courage and is the loving way. The following is right out of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraphs 2477 and 2478): Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury. He becomes guilty: of rash judgment who, even tacitly, assumes as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor; of detraction who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another's faults and failing to persons who did not know them; concerning them. I will end this letter with an incredibly challenging quote from Dorothy Day: "I really only love God as much as the person I love the least." Peace, Father Maassen