Dear Parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy,
Greetings in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ!
Lent is here. Last week you received a copy of the bulletin with information about the Church’s Lenten regulations. Our hope and prayer is that those regulations may be observed seriously. May we be convinced that it is through our extra efforts, we secure our salvation through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Our life experience tells us that in our struggle to lead a holy life, there are temptations along the way. Our readings this weekend tell us that temptations have existed since the beginning of creation. Let us take Jesus as our example. He was tempted many times by the devil. but he was able to resist those temptations. Let us ask Jesus’ help whenever we are tempted to sin. He is there to help us and He knows what we experience because He became one of us.
To help us in our spiritual lives, we provide some programs of spiritual nourishment. We have small group gatherings called Appreciate the Word, Live the Word that give us an opportunity to ponder the Word of God. We thank those who signed up to serve as group facilitators. May the Holy Spirit guide and enlighten them and those who signed up to participate. May their knowledge of God and faith in Him grow deeper and deeper. And most importantly, may they put that knowledge into action in their daily lives, mindful that faith without works is dead. Saying that, may we have a holy and blessed Lenten season!
On a different note, I want to welcome and congratulate Lukas Allen Yu, the newest member of our parish family. May we keep him in our prayers that he may grow in the knowledge and love of God. May his parents and godparents help him and guide him.
Also, a million thanks to those who came to the Jersey City Together community meeting here at OLM last Monday, February 24. I hope that your presence made an impact on our City Officials. May they find ways to resolve important concerns and issues in our neighborhood. Thanks to Father Tom and the members of the Core Team of the OLM Chapter of Jersey City Together for making this meeting possible.
Lastly, let us strive to live our lives as God wants us to and let us pray for one another.
Love,
Father Marty
STATIONS OF THE CROSS AT OLM DURING THE SEASON OF LENT
Let us journey with Jesus Christ during this Lenten season. The Stations of the Cross bring us closer to Jesus as we meditate on the great love he showed us in His most sorrowful Passion.
The members of Holy Name Society invite you to join them at 7:00pm on the following Fridays as they pray the Stations of the Cross: Match 6, 13, 20 and 27 & April 3