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Entries for February 2023
40 days Jesus stays in the desert, keeping a fast. What does it mean to fast? How would we explain this to someone outside the faith? Many times, we’ve had to explain those ashes on our foreheads to someone else at school or the workplace. Many times, people have wondered why we skip the meat we’d like to opt for the fish on a Friday night. Sometimes we compare a fast to a diet. But, there’s a difference. Dieting is pretty much about us—our health, our self-image, the way we’d like to others to see us. But, fasting tells us to give up something...
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Lent
A St. Patrick's Day Dinner sponsored by St. Lawrence will be held on Friday, March 17 from 4-6:30 p.m. in the St. Lawrence Parish Hall. Tickets will be sold after each Mass at St. Boniface and St. Lawrence beginning February 25. (Adults $14/Children 12 and under $5)
From Bishop Bambera: A dispensation from the Friday Lenten observance of abstaining from meat has been granted for those celebrating the Feast of Saint Patrick on Friday, March 17, 2023. In keeping with the sacrificial nature of the Lenten season, I ask that all who receive this dispensation offer some ac...
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St Lawrence
A reminder that our Lenten Schedule is available online and as a handout available in each church. Please note the schedule for Ash Wednesday:
7 a.m. at Divine Providence Chapel: Liturgy & Ashes;
10 a.m. SJNRA at St. Boniface: Mass & Ashes;
4:30 p.m. at St. Boniface: Fish Dinner Take Out;
5:30 p.m. at St. Boniface: Mass & Ashes;
7 p.m. at St. Lawrence: Liturgy & Ashes
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Lent
Lent 2023 starts on Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2023. As Catholics, the observation of Lent ends on Holy Thursday, April 6, 2023. For this season, and including Easter weekend, our two parishes have compiled a brochure of the schedule of Masses, special dinners, children's activities, times for confession, and much more. Please download and print this information-filled brochure, or pick up a copy at the back of either St. Lawrence or St. Boniface.
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Lent
Fasting. Prayer. Almsgiving. In this Wednesday’s — yes, it’s Ash Wednesday already! — gospel we’ll hear Jesus highlight these traditional Jewish—and later, Christian signs of repentance. This Lent each of us may have different paths to take as we fast, pray and do works of charity and justice, but let’s not forget one way in which we can unite with our sisters and brothers across the world this Lent: The Rice Bowl. They’re available at the doors of the church this weekend. Put them together (figuring out just how to ...
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Lent
PREP students in grades 3-7 will have the opportunity to go to confession in the weeks ahead. Our catechists have been working with the students to get them ready to celebrate this sacrament. We are asking parents to help us by reviewing reconciliation materials with their children. Look for materials to be sent home with everything you need.
February 26: Grade 4
March 5: Grades 3 & 6
March 12: Grade 5
March 19: Grade 7
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PREP
A reminder that our Lenten Schedule is available online and as a handout available in each church. Please note the schedule for Ash Wednesday:
7 a.m. at Divine Providence Chapel: Liturgy & Ashes;
10 a.m. SJNRA at St. Boniface: Mass & Ashes;
4:30 p.m. at St. Boniface: Fish Dinner Take Out;
5:30 p.m. at St. Boniface: Mass & Ashes;
7 p.m. at St. Lawrence: Liturgy & Ashes
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Lent
In preparation for this year’s parish pastoral council nominations and election, there will be two information opportunities to learn what it means to serve on this advisory council, and how the election process works. The first will be held at 6 p.m. on February 19 in the St. Lawrence Hall and the second will be at 6 p.m. on February 26 in the St. Boniface RAC. Come hear from current and past council members, understand more about the advisory role of the council, and ask any questions you might have. Light refreshments will be served.
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Oddly, our COVID times offered some moments of grace and growth. We were encouraged to leave our churches open for part of the day—particularly in light of our inability to welcome crowds back to public worship. Many of our parishes have continued to offer our spaces for quiet prayer and meditation. One of the opportunities here in our parishes has been the Monday evening confession time. Because it’s not just about getting to the sacrament of reconciliation, however valuable that may be, during that 5:30 to 7 p.m. time, we place the Blessed Sacrament on the alt...
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Thank you to all parishioners who have completed and submitted your commitment card to the church. For those parishioners who have not yet had the opportunity to submit their card, a letter will be mailed to you with a personalized commitment card. Each and every one of you is a vital member of our parish community and we want to hear from you! This is an opportunity to reflect upon and renew your sacrificial commitment to support the mission of the parish families of St. Boniface and St. Lawrence. For those who are able – there is an opportunity to make a one-time gi...
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Our next summer VBS is June 19-23 at the SJNRA High School campus. Adults are needed for various jobs including leading or supervising activities with small groups of students. Please consider helping us make this the best VBS week ever for our younger students! Contact Karen Balestino for more information at sbslprep@comcast.net or (570) 419-8679.
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Vacation Bible School
Do you realize we’re only 2 ½ weeks away from the beginning of Lent? Yes, Ash Wednesday approaches on February 22 this year. While I know that we often see Lent as a serious time for fasting and penance and prayer, Lent also invites us to prepare for Easter, to embrace a spiritual springtime along with the temporal springtime. Let’s think about how we’ll keep this Lent. This week I’d particularly invite families to consider how we lead our children along the pathways of Lent. Try to bring Lent into the home. We’re not just Catholic ...
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The "Christ is Alive Essay Contest" is open to PREP students in grades 3-8. Students should write a one-page essay about a time they felt God was with them. Submissions are due no later than Febrary 12. Please hand in submissions at PREP class or the parish office. More information is available online.
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PREP