Eighth Sunday In Ordinary Time
~ Happy Mardi Gras!
It is good to be back among you after memorable pilgrimage to Rome in celebration of the Jubilee Year 2025. There were many wonderful moments of grace along the way – praying and celebrating Mass in beautiful basilicas and cathedrals, spending time with family and friends and parishioners, enjoying great food and beautiful sights – so I give thanks to God for this time! We also had our challenges – sickness among our group, travel delays returning home, concern for the Holy Father and not being able to see him – but these challenges reminded us that God was with us, accompanying us with his mercy and grace at every step. Thanks for your prayers for me and for all the pilgrims. Please know that I prayed for you, the parish family of St. Margaret of Scotland, every day and at every Mass. The pictures here are just a few places where we were privileged to celebrate Mass – at the tomb of St. Dominic at the Basilica of St. Dominic in Bologna; in the Lithuanian Chapel in the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica; and in the Borghese Chapel at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, where Pope Francis goes to pray before and after every international trip and where he will eventually be interred. The Jubilee Year continues throughout 2025, and I encourage you to make your own pilgrimage to one of the Jubilee Churches in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. May we always recognize and trust that the Lord is with us on our pilgrimage of life and faith!
We all turn our attention now to the holy season of Lent, beginning this Ash Wednesday, March 5. The schedule of Masses for that day, and much information about things happening at St. Margaret during Lent are included in this bulletin and will be available in the bulletin and online in the weeks to come. Consider now how you can make this a holy time of grace by your own prayer, fasting, and works of mercy. I especially call your attention to our Parish Lenten Project this year – supporting Assisi House, which provides housing in our city and neighborhoods for unhoused or housing insecure individuals in small, communal settings where each person is treated with dignity and respect. This Lent, you will be hearing much more about how to make a donation, volunteer your time, and pray for all those who are unhoused, especially those served by Assisi House.
Until Wednesday, it is Carnival time, so eat a steak, have some wine, enjoy some chocolate, wear bright colors, rock some beads, and let the good times roll!
