Blessed Sacrament Parish

At this weekend’s Masses (Feb. 4,5) there will be a Blessing of Throats as we celebrate the Patron Saint Blaise, the patron of those suffering with throat ailments, Feast day being on Feb. 3.

The Trivia Game night is coming up Friday, Feb. 10 …. Not only is the game a ton of fun, but the menu of appetizers and meal offerings is amazing…. get yourself signed up soon!

St Margaret School Fundraiser, Ladies Night Out is Feb. 21, details in the bulletin.  A night of fun, food and mystery!

We are starting up a biweekly bible study using the readings of the Mass.  Come join us as you are able… First sessions are Wed. Feb. 15, 9:30 a.m. and/or Sunday, Feb. 19, 9:30 a.m. 

The Good Samaritan Group is available for financial assistance and pantry, not only on Mondays, but now also on Wednesdays,  9:30-10:30 a.m.

CCW has a limited number of pies left for sale, call the office.

The Next Religious Ed meeting for parents and youth is Feb. 12.

We are forming a 6 week class for any adult who has not received the Sacrament of Confirmation, one of the three sacraments of Catholic Initiation. Flexible schedule… call the office.

The new Parish Directory is finished, hopefully next weekend will be here to distribute!  

Mass Schedule for the week ahead:
Saturday, Feb. 4, 4 p.m.  for Mike Brown, req. by the Goffeney family
Sunday, Feb. 5, 8:30 a.m. for Blessed Sacrament Parishioners
Monday, Feb. 6, 9 a.m. for Amado Resendiz, req. by Bob and Betty Majewski
Wednesday, Feb. 8, 9 a.m. for Gerald and Clara Harris, req. by Rodger and Rita Jones.
Sanctuary light for the week of Feb. 5 is offered in memory of Chris Beckers, (one yr. anniv) req. by Bob and Julie Sosnowski
 

Dear friends in Christ,
Greetings of peace, hope and joy to each one of you.

February 11 is the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. It is the name given to the Virgin Mary in honor of the apparitions that took place in 1858, in Lourdes, France, which were witnessed by a young girl named Bernadette Soubirous. The Church canonized Bernadette as a saint in 1933.

On that day, we also keep the World Day of the Sick. Pope John Paul II initiated the day in 1992 to encourage people to pray for those who suffer from illness and for their caregivers. The Pope himself had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s a year before, in 1991. Many visitors and pilgrims visiting Lourdes, France have reported that they have been healed at the Marian Sanctuary. According to these reports, this healing has been through the intervention of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

On this day, we keep the sick and their caregivers in our special prayers. It is also good for us to consider volunteering at our local hospitals, hospices and nursing homes. Our prayers for them will go a long way in helping them find comfort and peace in the midst of all their pain and suffering. It is also a good day to appreciate healthcare professionals, hospital chaplains and all those who help the sick.

Many people suffer from illnesses. Some of them may be family members or friends, while others may be people whom we have never met. So, what we do for them today will surely come back to help us when we find ourselves in similar situations of suffering.

A prayer for the sick (especially if you are sick)
O Lord, I humbly come to you, praying to you as the Great Physician. I know that in the end all healing comes through you. Bless me with a sense of patience as I wait for answers regarding an illness. Grant me peace as I struggle with an unwelcome prognosis. Help me find joy again as I mourn the ever-present changes from the body of my youth. Fill me with the courage to endure the challenges that this illness presents. Most of all, open my heart to seeing your love for me. May I rest in the knowledge that this love is constant. May your love for me be a source of hope that heals me deep in my soul. Amen.

A prayer for a caregiver
God of mercy and compassion, we ask you to anoint and bless the work of our hands, our minds, our hearts, and our spirits as we serve your people in need. You have called us to care for those who are ill, injured, and suffering in many ways. Make us instruments of your healing touch to bring comfort and relief to those who come into our care. May all persons we encounter and serve experience the blessing of your tenderness and love through our care. Thank you for the ministry of healing that you have entrusted to us as we serve your people in your name each day. We ask your blessings of good health, protection, and peace in our own lives as well. Amen.

In Christ,
Fr. Simon