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Pastor's Corner: February 2

Posted on February 02, 2025 in: Pastor's Corner

You thought today was just Sunday, right? Another Sunday like all other Sundays. If you were particularly focused on Church and Mass, you might have guessed it was Some Sunday in Ordinary Time—third, fourth, whatevereth?

But, this Sunday’s a lot more.

It’s Groundhog Day and if you’re reading this on Sunday morning, that rodent has already warmed or chilled our hearts with a prediction for spring. It’s the Presentation of the Lord—the fortieth day after Christmas when the Christ Child was presented in the temple, and one of those feasts that preempts the ordinary Sunday prayers and readings. It’s the end of Catholic Schools Week. It’s the Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life.

Now some of these things are connected. The light and darkness themes of the probably pagan groundhog and Simeon’s words about light celebrate the growing length of these winter days, growing, of course, towards spring and Easter.

The Lord’s presentation in the presence of Anna and Simeon—people dedicated to prayer—links us to consecrated life, those religious women and men who give themselves to serving God and God’s people.

Catholic Schools Week calls to remember that part of the Church’s mission is teaching. Teaching the truth about God and all things in relationship to God. That teaching happens in many places—certainly in traditional Catholic schools and in parish religious education programs, but also in parents and godparents as they, the first and hopefully best teachers of their children, hand on the faith to another generation. So, let’s celebrate this last feast related to Christmas. Let’s look forward—with serious determination to Lent and Easter. Let’s allow our lives and our vocations brighten the world with the light of Christ.

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