Father Richards

Hi All,

We are fast approaching Easter; next weekend is Palm Sunday. Amazing how fast time is just flying.

I want to take the time to thank anyone who helped with the gala/auction for the school. This type of event is a monumental task and so any of you helped either physically or in terms of a donation in some way, I thank you. The students will benefit so much in the future!

As you go into this week, approaching Palm Sunday, along with the challenge I give you below, knowing that the reading of the gospel for next weekend is the Passion of Christ. So take some time and reflect on our own hands that were a part of this event that open the doors of heaven for all of us!

Your challenge this week:

This weekend we have the raising of Lazarus from the tomb. In our lives we have our own tomb and can be filled with many things, those things we do not take to prayer. In our lives we need to confront those things buried in the tomb head on and reconcile them with God. So this week, I ask you to:

1. Identify the things that you have buried and bring them to Christ.
2. Take those things to the Lord and the best way to do that is through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Peace and God Bless,
Fr. Ron Richards

Hi All,

This Monday, the 20th is the Solemnity of St. Joseph. Joseph gets very little accolades for all he did as the human father of Jesus. This day is typically celebrated on the 19th, but with that day being a Sunday, the Solemnity has been transferred to Monday the 20th.

As we look at St. Joseph, he is venerated as the model of humility, obedience, and fatherly love. He is often depicted as a carpenter, reflecting his role as a skilled craftsman who provided for his family. St. Joseph is also considered a patron saint of workers, fathers, and families.

The origins of the Solemnity of St. Joseph date back to the 15th century when Pope Sixtus IV established it as a local feast day for the Franciscan Order. It was later extended to the entire Catholic Church by Pope Gregory XV in the 17th century.

On this day, Catholics around the world attend Mass, pray to St. Joseph for his intercession, and reflect on his example of faith and devotion. The feast day is also an opportunity to honor fathers and all those who work to support their families.

Your challenge this week is going to be the following:

1. What is it that holds you back from opening your eyes to believing, seeing, and feeling the love Christ has for you?
2. What are you going to do different this week to express your love for Christ to others?

Peace and God Bless
Fr. Ron Richards

Hi all!

We are at the third Sunday of Lent. Where is the time going. To this point the Challenges I have put forth to you over the past two weeks have all been internal and meditative. The purpose was so you could begin the process of knowing, internally, what it takes to be an ambassador for Christ in this world. This week that changes this week we are going to begin the external process.

Our reading is the Woman at the Well. She is someone who experiences this incredible Encounter with Christ at the Well. Her response, upon having this encounter, is to run off and tell others about it.

We all have had an encounter with Christ in our lives. Maybe you do not fully recognize it but you have. So I am giving you two things to do this week in my challenge to you.

First you are to reflect on the encounter and take the time to journal the encounter in writing. Through this you will even have a deeper understanding of the encounter and what it means. Secondly, you are to share that encounter with someone else. NO, if you are married it cannot be your spouse. I would like for you to find someone who needs to hear about an encounter with Christ and share your personal encounter with them.

I understand this may be very awkward for some of you. But trust me many fruits come from sharing our encounter with Christ to others in this world.

Good Luck!

Peace and God Bless,
Fr. Ron Richards

Hi All,

I hope you are all well. I wanted to let you know that we will be having a Reconciliation Service with individual confession and absolution following. However that will not be taking place here. The family of parishes, just as we did during Advent are working together on the service. The service will take place at St. Benedict in Waterford on Wednesday evening March 22 at 7 pm. Again, there are going to be 5 priests there to hear your confessions following the Reconciliation service. If you have any questions about the service, contact St. Benedict and they will be able to answer those questions for you.

On another note, I just stumbled upon this offer from Chris Stefanik and his website, Real Life Catholic. He is offering, for free this 7 week Lenten series titled Fearless. Chris Stefanik is one the best Catholic Evangelizers of the faith we have out there today. His website Real Life Catholic is fantastic. For those of you with kids in our confirmation program, we are using his program “Chosen” for preparing our kids for confirmation. Here is the link to get access to this program. I really encourage all of you to begin this, even though we are in the second week of Lent. https://reallifecatholic.com/fearless/

This is our second week of Lent, and the preaching series continues. The reading this weekend is the Transfiguration of Christ to Peter, James, and John. This moment is powerful and revealing, as this is the first time that any of the disciples of Christ visibly see he is the Son of God. Indeed, God Himself. Imagine if that were you, how would you react if you were in the shoes of Peter, James, and John?

The challenge you will hear this week and need to take to prayer are the following:

• Hear the Voice of Christ and what He wants you to do with your life to foster his message in the world and be a true ambassador for him.
• What is it that He is asking you to do in this world, so you can grow and be His ambassador to those you encounter?

Peace and God bless,
Fr. Ron Richards