Cathedral Family,
I want to take this opportunity to thank and honor Mrs. Madonna Razal from our front office staff. Madonna will be retiring from her work here after 25 years of service! We are very grateful for all that she has contributed to our parish community. In her position of interfacing with generations of parishioners, her kindness, faith and personal concern have impacted literally thousands of people. Her mission was to serve the Lord by working for His Church. We are deeply grateful for her many years of service and her witness of love. May she find great contentment and joy in her next phase of life as she transitions to retirement.
This week, we celebrate many great saints. On Monday, we celebrated Sts. Timothy and Titus, early Bishops of the Church and companions of St. Paul. Writing to Timothy—Paul famously instructed him—“God has not given us a cowardly spirit---but rather one of power, love and self-control.” This means that God does not want His beloved children to succumb to paralyzing fear to do the good—rather His Spirit is with us to accomplish great things—even though we may feel woefully underqualified. I just want to encourage and thank those participating in the Transformative Small Faith Groups. Many, including the facilitators, stepped out in faith (and fear) to do something, although they did not feel up to the task. Already, I am hearing very positive, exciting results of what is being discussed and how the small faith meetings are just exactly what so many people needed. Please pray for them and consider joining in our next phase after Easter.
The snow storm of last weekend brought everything to a halt. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Snow storms are, for the most part, interruptions in our lives to remind us that we are not ultimately in charge. However, for some people, the severe cold is dangerous. For those who live on the edge and margins of society, the severity of the weather can be extremely uncomfortable and even life threatening. Thanks be to God that Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Metuchen was working overtime. Our annual subsidy to Catholic Charities, from our diocesan assessments, helps to provide on the ground support to shelters as well as those struggling to pay for electricity and gas. We also forwarded the emergency collection, ‘Together in Charity,” which will become part of emergency aid to people slipping through the cracks during hard times. We also continue to be grateful for the $10,000 grant from Manasquan Bank, given to our St. Francis Social Concerns and Food Pantry. This gift has allowed us to extend local charity care in our community in a very impactful way. Let us continue to keep in our prayers those for whom this time of year is brutal. May our love, concern and charity lighten their burden and remind them of God’s love surrounding them.
The Open House for our St. Francis Cathedral School has been rescheduled for this Sunday. Many of our
children and their families will be with us for the 12 noon mass. Please plan to visit our school if you have
never been there…or maybe have not visited in a long time! Please invite others to consider sending their
children to Catholic school.
Also this this weekend, we will bless and commission our Lectors/Readers at the 10 am Mass, rescheduled from last Sunday. Consider joining to become a Reader! We always welcome more to read the Word of God in our Assembly.
This coming week, we celebrate the Presentation of the Lord---being reminded of Joseph and Mary bringing Jesus to the Temple as an infant. He is recognized as the “light to the nations.” Our Church has a tradition of honoring those in religious vows, for through their consecration they are “light to the nations.” Please keep in your prayers our religious Sisters---Sister Josephine, MFP, and Sister Mary Elizabeth, SCC, who teach in our school—along with the other sisters who reside in our convents but have ministry in other places. We are most grateful for their faithful witness and love.
In Jesus,
Father Christy