Pastor’s Corner — February 22nd, 2026
Lenten Penances: Love is the Point
Lent is a special season of penance that helps prepare us to enter more deeply into celebrating the mysteries of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. It’s a time of deeper personal conversion in love. Therefore, we never undertake penances for their own sake. Everything we “give up” or every devotion we “add” must be for the sake of growing in greater conversion in receiving love from God or giving his love to others. Love is the point of it all. The Church enjoins penitential practices upon us because, as a good mother, she wishes that each of us love Jesus more perfectly. Lent is thus a perfect time to take seriously growing our spiritual life and our relationships.
If we were to compare how strict the Church practiced fasting and abstinence from meat just a few centuries ago to now, we would understand that what the Church is asking of us today is fairly weak. Below are the current Church norms for Lenten fasting and abstinence from meat here (from the USCCB website):
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence [from meat] for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence [from meat]. For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards.
St Patrick’s Day Celebration: Space is Limited, Sign Up Required
You’re invited to our annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Tuesday, March 17th, at 6:00 PM as we come together to honor our beloved patron saint. Like previous years, our gathering promises to be an evening filled with fellowship and laughter, a vibrant display of our parish community.
You can enjoy an evening of celebrating our patron’s feast day with a delicious Irish dinner, beer, fellowship, crafts for the kids and a performance from The Ardán Academy of Irish Dance! There may even be a surprise visit from a very special guest!
A team of dedicated volunteers will be on hand to ensure a memorable evening of fellowship, faith, and fun as we celebrate our shared heritage and the guiding spirit of St. Patrick.
As you enter O’Kelly Hall in the Parish Life Center, you’ll have the opportunity to explore displays from many of our active ministries, each sharing their mission and impact through small table exhibits.
Secure your tickets here Tickets: $15 each for adults, children and teens (12 and under) attend for free. All attendees must register to help us provide an accurate catering count. Space is limited.
Come celebrate with us and be part of our wonderful parish community. Hope to see you there!
Weekly Lenten Fish Fries: New and Improved Fish Recipe
St Pat’s Knights of Columbus are once again doing weekly Fish Fries every Friday in Lent (except Good Friday of course) in O’Kelly Hall from 4:00pm-8:00pm, beginning Friday, February 20th.
This new and improved menu includes a choice between delicious hand-battered fried cod, garlic butter salmon, fried shrimp, or mac-n-cheese. This year, we will also have a delicious selection of desserts being offered by our St. Pat’s School students. Not only can you enjoy a sweet treat–every purchase will help our students offset the cost of their annual class trip to Washington D.C.
I’m very proud of our Knights for taking on this big new ministry to create space for parish fellowship and to raise money to help with the charities the Knights so generously fund. More information can be found here.
“That They May Be One” Docudrama Screening at St Pat’s: February 28th
As I’ve written on before, the producers of The Wild Goose Series (4pm Media) has produced a new docudrama called That They May Be One on Christian unity that will be screened at St Pat’s on February 28th at 6pm in O’Kelly Hall. According to the website, this documentary blends documentary interviews with dramatic reenactments and invites viewers to pursue unity in Christ through prayer and action, trusting the Holy Spirit to heal division and strengthen witness to the Gospel. Some of this was filmed here at St Pat’s.
Ecumenism, working for Christian unity, is very dear to the heart of Jesus. Come see how God is uniting Christians in the Holy Spirit. Please see the bulletin insert this week for more information. I hope to see you there!
Woodworker Wanted
Years ago Fr Joe Campbell built some boardroom style tables for the parish offices. We would like one more and he’s unable to build one for us, given that he’s going into the Navy and all. Because they are so unique, I’d like to see if there is someone who might be able to custom build another one for us that matches the previous ones. If you, or someone you know, is a woodworker and might be willing to donate time (not materials) to build a table for the parish offices, please let me know (send me an email or call the office). Thanks!
Your servant in the Lord,
Fr. Mathias