FOR OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE

Tilling the Soil of Your Heart https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/first15-devotional/tilling-the-soil-of-the-heart-scripture-first15

This week we'll look at a vital

spiritual practice to all those seeking to grow in God: tilling the soil of the heart.

Jesus spoke in Matthew 13 of two different types of soil—hard and soft. God longs for us to till the soil of our hearts that we might be receptive to

the seed of his word and bear fruit. May your heart become more responsive to the presence, will, and love of God this week as you cultivate good soil with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture: “As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He

indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” - Matthew 13:23

The concept of good and bad soil is something Jesus’s listeners would have understood well. Planting in good or bad soil meant having food or going hungry. It meant having

money or not. For their agrarian

culture it was a matter of survival.

While Jesus’s parable might not have as direct a correlation to us, its principle remains just as relevant. We all have spiritual soil. Through our mindsets and postures of the heart we can receive the seed of God's word which will in turn yield

life-giving fruit. Or, we can allow the soil of our hearts to make us unreceptive to the powerful work God in our lives.

It's incredibly important for us to

understand that God never forces his

desires on us. He waits patiently—beckoning us to open our hearts fully to him. He gently shows us his love, whispers his perfect plans to us, and

waits for us to trust and surrender. With the grace of God, we can till the soil of our hearts, living receptively and surrendered to his loving kindness and perfect will. If we will cultivate a willing heart, God will mold and shape us into children free

from the cares of the world and

empowered to live Christ-like, fruitful lives.

Take time today to assess your own life. What parts of your heart are

hard to God? Where do you feel unreceptive to his goodness? Where

do you need to say yes to God today in a fresh, transformative way? God is calling you to a lifestyle of trust and surrender that he might lead you to green pastures and still waters.

There is abundant life for you in store this week as you cultivate good soil. May the Holy Spirit help you look honestly at the posture of your heart today as you enter into a time of guided prayer.

Guided Prayer:

1. Take some time to receive God's presence. Open your heart to feel the peace and rest that comes from encountering him.

“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to

you ways in which you aren't fully open to God. How are you not fully saying yes to God? In what

ways are you living your life apart from the leadership and presence of God? Where don’t you fully trust him? Where aren’t you bearing the fruit of the Spirit?

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;

against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

3. Confess those things to God.

Receive his love and forgiveness as you repent and turn away from hardness of heart. Spend time resting in God’s presence and experiencing the new found peace that comes from having your heart

more surrendered and receptive to God.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful

and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

Tilling our hearts into good soil is an important daily exercise. The more often you do it, the more you’ll realize the need to have good soil. Having our hearts fully open to God

takes the mundane and makes it wonderful. It takes sunsets, conversations, prayers, work, and church and fills them with life, value, beauty, and joy. Take what you've learned today and continue to put it into practice. Choose to live a life

positioned to receive all that God has in store for you. May your day be

marked by the fruit of the Spirit.

17 March 2019 Second Sunday in Lent

IN THE PARISH

Helpful Information

Join the Parish

Anyone wishing to register for membership in the parish is asked to fill out a registration form and drop it in the collection basket.

Request Prayers

Our INTERCESSORY PRAYER MINISTRY provides prayer for anyone in need throughout the parish. Contact MARY ANN MAGDA at 570-820-0525 or make your intention known on our parish website at www.standrebessettewb.com

Remember your Parish

Your parish serves you faithfully throughout your life. Please remember your parish with a memorial gift or a Bequest in your will. Make a return to the Lord for all the good He has done for you.

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATIONS

Anointing of the Sick

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick may take place at any time, but, sadly, too many families wait until the last minute to call the priest to anoint their loved ones. If someone in your family is seriously ill, preparing for surgery, or suffering a prolonged illness, please contact the parish office to arrange a time for Fr. Ken to visit. IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY—or if Fr. Ken is unavailable to visit immediately, we will contact the first available priest to celebrate the Sacrament of Anointing with your loved one.

Funeral Preparations

We collaborate with the local funeral directors in arranging the times of the funerals. Please be aware that

there is an additional fee for funerals on Saturdays imposed by most cemeteries in the area.

Baptismal Preparations

Parents of newly born infants may call the parish office to arrange a time for the Baptism of their child. Baptisms are celebrated, for the most part, on any Sunday, with the exception of the season of Lent.

Wedding Preparations

Couples contemplating Marriage are asked to contact the parish office at least one year prior to the contemplated date of marriage, before making other plans.

Social Justice Council News

The Social Justice Council is making plans to assist those in need this Easter. If you or someone you know is having a difficult time financially and could use some help at Easter, please call ANNA HUDOCK at 570-822-1926. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT WE DO NOT

KEEP RECORDS OF THOSE WE HAVE HELPED IN THE PAST. Anyone needing help this year must contact us. The Social Justice Council will also be offering an Easter Remembrance to our homebound parishioners. If you or a loved one is homebound or in a nursing home or care facility please contact Anna Hudock at 570-822-1926. We Don’t Want to inadvertently miss anyone.

The Social Justice Council will also be preparing Blessed Baskets for our homebound at Easter. Again, if you would like a Blessed Basket with the traditional Easter Foods, please contact Anna Hudock at 570-822-1926

SOUP and STUDY for the

LENTEN and EASTER SEASONS

Dates: March 20 & 27, April 3, 10, 24, May 1, 8, 22, 29, June 5.

Time: 6 –7:30 pm

Place: Fr. Zolcinski Hall Our parish will begin a series of spiritual gatherings focused on the Sunday Scriptures as well as Matt Kelly’s book, The Biggest Lie in Christianity.

Copies of The Biggest Lie in Christianity are available for those who do not have them. The Format for these gatherings will be Faith

-Sharing, rather than presentation. Active Listening and Discussion will be part of every session.

JOIN US FOR FAITH and FELLOWSHIP

JUST A REMINDER: All Fridays of Lent are days of Penitence and Abstinence on which no meat is to be eaten. This ordinance applies to anyone over the age of 14 until death. No one is

exempt, except for serious sickness. Those under the age of 14 may abstain voluntarily.

17 March 2019 Second Sunday in Lent

JOIN US FOR AN EASTER BRUNCH Sunday, April 28th from 9 am –1 pm

in Fr. Zolcinski Hall. The Menu will feature eggs, bacon, kielbasa, apple fritters, homefries, and much more. Tickets are $5.00 each and will go on sale next weekend!

Hope to see you there!

St. Joseph Novena continues this weekend with services at 7 pm on Saturday, Sunday and

Monday. The Feast of St. Joseph

will be celebrated on Tuesday, MARCH 19th with Solemn Mass at 7 pm.

The regular 8 am Morning Mass will resume on Wednesday, March 20.

Our Parish Social Justice Committee recently sent a care package to PFC Ryan Hinkle who is serving with the 19th. Engineer Battalion 42nd. Route Clearance Company. Ryan is the son on our maintenance man, Jim Hinkle.

Ryan was pleasantly surprised with all the goodies, toiletries and other items we sent, which he was able to share with his

platoon.

We thank Dolores Dlugosh, Roxanne Degnan and Pat and Paul Baran for

spearheading this project.

Please keep Ryan and all our men and women in the military in your prayers.

THE LITURGY

Lenten Schedule March 6—April 12, 2019

MONDAYS of LENT March 11—April 8

4-6 pm Sacrament of Reconciliation

WEDNESDAYS of LENT March 20– April 10

6 pm SOUP and STUDY

THURSDAYS of LENT March 7-April 11

NOON Adoration of the

Blessed Sacrament

6 pm Vespers (Evening Prayer)

Benediction

FRIDAYS of LENT March 8 -- April 12

NOON Stations of the Cross

3 pm DIVINE MERCY DEVOTIONS

NOVENA TO ST. JOSEPH Sunday, March 10 -- Tuesday, March 19

7 pm

March

16 & 17

Vespers, Novena Prayers

and Benediction

7 pm

March

18-19

Mass with Novena Prayers

17 March 2019 Second Sunday in Lent

Keep

Careful

Watch

Over your

HEART.

That’s

Where

LIFE

starts.

The message of The Divine Mercy is

simple. It is that God loves us – all of

us. And, he wants us to recognize that

His mercy is greater than our sins, so

that we will call upon Him with trust,

receive His mercy, and let it flow

through us to others. Thus, all will

come to share His joy.

The Divine Mercy message is one we

can call to mind simply by

remembering ABC:

A - Ask for His Mercy. God wants us to

approach Him in prayer constantly,

repenting of our sins and asking Him

to pour His mercy out upon us and

upon the whole world.

B - Be merciful. God wants us to

receive His mercy and let it flow

through us to others. He wants us to

extend love and forgiveness to others

just as He does to us.

C - Completely trust in Jesus. God wants us to know that the

graces of His mercy are dependent upon our trust. The more we

trust in Jesus, the more we will receive.

This message and devotion to Jesus as The Divine Mercy is

based on the writings of Saint Faustina Kowalska, an uneducated

Polish nun who, in obedience to her spiritual director, wrote a

diary of about 600 pages recording the revelations she received

about God's mercy. Even before her death in 1938, the devotion

to The Divine Mercy had begun to spread.

The message and devotional practices proposed in the Diary of

Saint Faustina and set forth in this web site and other

publications of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception are

completely in accordance with the teachings of Church and are

firmly rooted in the Gospel message of our Merciful Savior.

Properly understood and implemented, they will help us grow as

genuine followers of Christ.

Spend time to learn more

about the mercy of God, learn

to trust in Jesus, and live your

life as merciful to others, as

Christ is merciful to you.

The Divine Mercy Message and Devotion

The Chaplet of Divine

Mercy is prayed every

Friday at 3 p.m. in the

Church.

Please join us for this

brief devotion requested

by our Lord.

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Thursday, April 4 Thursday, May 5 Thursday, June 6

1 pm

CATECHETICAL COUNCIL TBA

6:00 p.m.

FINANCE COUNCIL Thursday, March 21 Thursday June 20

6:00 pm

LITURGICAL COUNCIL Thursday, April 4 Thursday, May 2

6:00 p.m.

PARISH LIFE COUNCIL Thursday, March 28 Thursday, May 30

6:00 pm

PASTORAL COUNCIL Thursday May 16

6:00 p.m.

SOCIAL JUSTICE COUNCIL Thursday, April 11 Thursday, May 9

6:00 p.m.

FAITH SHARING

DISCIPLES of the SPIRIT 10:30 am

Saturday, May 18 Saturday, June15

ST. ANDRE FAITH SHARERS

6:00 pm Monday, May 6 Monday, June 3

COMPANIONS ON THE JOURNEY

2:00 pm Sunday, March 17 Sunday, May 19 Sunday, June16

For More Information,

please contact Sr.

Madonna at 570-823-

4988.

SEASON of LENT

Weekend of March 16-17 Second Sunday in Lent

4 pm Vigil Mass 5:30 pm Vigil Mass 8:00 am Mass 9:30 am FAITH FORMATION 11:00 am Mass DEBT REDUCTION Envelopes 7 pm ST. JOSEPH NOVENA

Weekend of March 23-24 Third Sunday in Lent

4 pm Vigil Mass 5:30 pm Vigil Mass 8:00 am Mass 9:30 am FAITH FORMATION 11:00 am Mass

Monday, March 18

No Morning Mass 7 pm ST. JOSEPH NOVENA

Monday, March 25 SOLEMNITY OF THE ANNUNCIATION

8 AM FEAST DAY MASS 4-6 pm Confessions

Tuesday, March 19 SOLEMNITY of ST. JOSEPH

NO MORNING MASS 7 pm SOLEMN MASS OF ST. JOSEPH

Tuesday, March 26

8 am Mass 5:30 pm Choir

Wednesday, MARCH 20

8 AM MORNING MASS RESUMES 6:00 pm SOUP & STUDY

Wednesday, MARCH 27

8 am Mass 6:00 pm SOUP & STUDY

Thursday, MARCH 21

8 am Morning Mass Noon Exposition 6 pm Vespers/ FINANCE

Thursday, MARCH 28

8 am Morning Mass Noon Exposition 6 pm Vespers/ Parish Life

Friday, March 22

8 am Morning Mass Noon—Stations of the Cross 3 pm Divine Mercy Devotions

Friday, March 29

8 am Morning Mass Noon—Stations of the Cross 3 pm Divine Mercy Devotions

Saturday, March 23

3 pm Confessions

VIGIL: Third Sunday in Lent

Saturday, March 16

3 pm Confessions

VIGIL: Third Sunday in Lent

ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCILS

Development Committee 6:30 pm

Monday, April 1 Monday, May 6 Monday, June 3

PARISH COMMITTEES

Loaves and Fishes Food for March

Tea Bags

17 March 2019 Second Sunday in Lent

Spring Oldies Dinner Dance Our next Social/Fundraising event will be held on Friday, May 17th from 6-10pm at St. Mary's Social Hall, 522 Madison St. Wilkes Barre. Join us for dinner and live Oldies music by Millennium for your listening and dancing pleasure. Tickets are $20.00 each, and can now be purchased at the Parish Office during business hours. Homemade dinner and desserts will be offered, as well as water/soda/coffee. Responsible BYOB is ok. Must be 21 years of age and older to attend. Bountiful Basket Raffle Along with our Spring Oldies Dinner Dance, we'll once again be running our Bountiful Basket Raffle. Baskets and gift card prizes are greatly needed to support this effort. Empty baskets are now available in the vestibule for you to "adopt", fill, and return to the Parish Office or sacristy. Gift card or monetary donations may be placed in the weekend collection. Prize donations are due by no later than Easter Sunday, April

21. Please note that alcohol cannot be raffled. Thank you for your support!

FROM THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH FAITH SHARING

What Type of Soil Are You? Angelus Message of Our Holy Father Francis

16 July 2017 www.vatican.va

When Jesus spoke, he used simple

words and he also used images

which were examples taken from

daily life, in order to be easily

understood by all. This is why they

listened to him willingly and

appreciated his message which

directly touched their heart. And it

was not that complicated language

which was difficult to understand,

as that used by the Doctors of the

Law of that time, which was not

easily understood, was very rigid

and distanced people. And with this

language Jesus made the mystery

of the Kingdom of God understood;

it was not complicated theology.

And one example is that of today’s

Gospel passage: the parable of the

sower (cf. Mt 13:1-23).

The sower is Jesus. With this

image, we can see that he presents

himself as one who does not impose

himself, but rather offers himself.

He does not attract us by

conquering us, but by donating

himself: he casts seeds. With

patience and generosity, he spreads

his Word, which is not a cage or a

trap, but a seed which can bear

fruit. And how can it bear fruit? If

we welcome it.

Therefore, the parable concerns us

especially. In fact, it speaks more of

the soil than of the sower. Jesus

carries out, so to speak, a “spiritual

X-ray” of our heart, which is the soil

on which the seed of the Word falls.

Our heart, like the soil, may be

good and then the Word bears fruit

— and a great deal — but it can

also be hard and impermeable. This

happens when we hear the Word

but it bounces off of us, just as on a

street: it does not enter.

Between the good soil and the

street; the asphalt — if we throw a

seed on the

sanpietrini” (cobblestones), nothing

grows — there are however, two

intermediate types of soil which, in

different amounts, we can have

within us. The first, Jesus says, is

rocky. Let us try to imagine it:

rocky ground is a terrain that “does

not have much soil” (cf. Mt 13:5),

so the seed sprouts but is unable to

put down deep roots. This is how

the superficial heart is: it welcomes

the Lord, wants to pray, love and

bear witness, but does not

persevere; it becomes tired and

never “takes off”. It is a heart

without depth, where the rocks of

laziness prevail over the good soil,

where love is fickle and fleeting. But

whoever welcomes the Lord only

when they want to does not bear

fruit.

Then, there is the last ground, the

thorny one, filled with briars which

choke the good plants. What do

these thorns represent? “The cares

of the world and the delight in

riches” (v. 22), as Jesus says

explicitly. The thorns are the vices

which come to blows with God,

which choke his presence: above all

these are the idols of worldly

wealth, living avidly, for oneself, for

possessions and for power. If we

cultivate these thorns, we choke

God’s growth within us. Each of us

can recognize his or her big or small

thorns, the vices that inhabit the

heart, those more or less deeply

rooted briars that God does not like

and that prevent us from having a

clean heart. It is necessary to tear

them out, otherwise the Word

cannot bear fruit, the seed will not

grow.

Dear brothers and sisters, Jesus

invites us today to look inside

ourselves: to give thanks for our

good soil and to tend the soil that is

not yet good. Let us ask ourselves if

our heart is open to welcome the

seed of the Word of God with faith.

Let us ask ourselves if our rocks of

laziness are still numerous and

large; let us identify our thorns of

vice and call them by name. Let us

find the courage to reclaim the soil,

to effect a nice conversion of our

heart, bringing to the Lord in

Confession and in prayer our rocks

and our thorns. In doing this, Jesus,

the Good Sower will be glad to

carry out an additional task: purify

our hearts by removing the rocks

and the thorns which choke his

Word.

17 March 2019 Second Sunday in Lent

IN THE DIOCESE

Notice Regarding the Sexual Abuse of A Minor It is the policy of the Diocese of Scranton to report any allegation of sexual abuse of a minor to law enforcement. If you are a victim of sexual abuse, you are encouraged to immediately report the matter to law enforcement. If any priest, deacon, religious, lay employee or volunteer of the Diocese of Scranton has cause or reason to suspect that a minor has been subjected to any form of abuse, including child sexual abuse, the matter will be reported to law enforcement. In accordance with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law, reports of suspected child abuse should also be made immediately by phone to the 24 hour Child Abuse Hotline (ChildLine) at 1-800-932-0313 or electronically at www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis. It is also the policy of the Diocese to adhere to all civil and state regulations. To this end, the Diocese is equally committed to adhering to the norms of the Code of Canon Law and to upholding the tenets of the USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, which includes supporting victims of sexual abuse in their pursuit of emotional and spiritual well-being. As such, information regarding an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor should also be reported to the Victim Assistance Coordinator, Mary Beth Pacuska at 570-862-7551 or to Diocesan Officials, including the Vicar General, Msgr. Thomas M. Muldowney, V.G. at 570-207-2269.

Scranton NPM 2019 Events

Mark your 2019 calendars now and plan on attending the upcoming spiritual and informative events of the Scranton Chapter of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. Here is a listing of what’s in store:

Cathedral Art, Music &

Architecture Tour — Monday, May 13 at 6:00PM at the Cathedral of St. Peter, Scranton

42nd Annual NPM

Convention—July 16-19 in Raleigh, NC

Resources for Selecting

Liturgical Music—Monday, September 16 at 6:00PM at St. John Neumann Parish (Holy Name site), Scranton

Creating Effective Worship

Aids—Tuesday, November 12 at 6:00PM at Holy Name of Jesus, West Hazleton

For more information about any of these events, visit ScrantonNPM.com.

ANNUAL APPEAL

Parish Goal: $32,000.00 Pledges/Gifts: $20,508.00 Still Needed: $11,492.00 If you have not yet made your pledge you may do so by contacting the Development Office at 570-207-2250 or sending your pledge directly to Diocesan Annual Appeal Development Office Diocese of Scranton 300 Wyoming Ave. Scranton, PA 18503

Evening Recollection

for Extraordinary Ministers of Communion

Wednesday, April 3, 2019 St. Leo Parish

Ashley beginning at 6 pm

The Body of Christ:

Our Identity and Purpose Presenter: David Baloga

Director for Worship

To Register, contact St. Leo’s Parish at 570-825-6669.

VIRTUS TRAINING Thursday, March 28, 2019

6—9 pm on the Campus of

King’s College Wilkes-Barre, PA

Please consider joining to take part in this vital program to help safeguard our most

vulnerable and precious gifts: our children. The session details are listed on the diocesan

website www.dioceseofscranto.org.

To Register, send an e-mail to

Br. Stephen LaMendola CSC at

stephenlamendola@kings.edu include name, parish/school, email

address and telephone number.

17 March 2019 Second Sunday in Lent

Prayer for an End to Infanticide

The U.S. Senate recently failed to pass the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act— legislation that prohibits infanticide by ensuring that a child born alive following an attempted abortion would receive the same degree

of care to preserve her or his life and health as would be given to any other child born alive at the same gestational age. Please join us in prayer for an end to infanticide:

“Jesus, Lord of Life, transform the hearts of all elected leaders to recognize that infanticide is wrong and must not be tolerated. Open

hearts and minds to recognize and defend the precious gift of every human life.”

CATHOLIC MEN’S CONFERENCE

The Fifth Annual Catholic Men's Conference for the Diocese of Scranton will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2019, from 8am to 3pm at Holy Redeemer High School, 159 South Pennsylvania Ave. Wilkes Barre, PA 18701. Our fantastic lineup of speakers includes Fr. Philip G. Bochanski, the executive director of Courage International who will speak on how manly virtue involves living chaste lives, along with well-known psychologist, speaker, and EWTN TV host, Dr. Ray Guarendi. Our third speaker will be motivational speaker, apologist, and TV host of “Battle Ready”, Doug Barry. There will be opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration, the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation as well as Rosary. Additionally, exhibitors will be present with a full array of Catholic books and publications. Fathers, sons, grandsons and friends are all most welcome to register for the event. Bishop Joseph C. Bambera will celebrate the closing Mass. Register on line at: www.beamanconferencecom , or mail the completed conference brochure application with your check to Attn: Men’s Conference, Office for Parish Life, 330 Wyoming Ave, Scranton, PA. 18503. The cost of the conference is $40.00 regular, $30 for early birds(until 4/1/19), and $15 for Students. Priests and Deacons are free. For further information call Chris Calore @ 570-824-5621.

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STEWARDSHIP

SMALL STORIES– BIG IDEAS: The Parable of the Sower by Rev. Neal Locke

http:fpcep.org

What are parables? They are some pretty small stories which contain some pretty big ideas.

The word “parable” comes from the Greek word parabolay. Para is a preposition that means “next to” (cf parachute, parasite, paramour) and bolay is a verb that means, perhaps surprisingly, “to throw.” So a

parable is literally to throw something near or next to something else. In this case, it’s to throw a story near or next to–but not precisely at–it’s actual meaning. A parable is a parallel, an extended analogy, or a story where something fictional represents something real.

Parables are associated with Jesus more than any other historical figure, and they were certainly his favorite method of teaching. In every parable, we have a natural tendency to ask the question, “Who am I in this story?” And that brings us to today’s text; to our first parable, the Parable of the Sower:

A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. Some fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold.

Who am I in this story? Am I the sower? Am I the seed? Am I the soil? Even though Jesus explains the parable to his disciples, he doesn’t really say. I’ve heard many sermons that say I am the soil, either receptive to God’s word or not. But a close read of the text doesn’t support that either. In his explanation, Jesus says “the ones ON the path are those… the ones ON the rock are those…” He doesn’t say, “the path are those… the rock are those.”

So maybe I’m the seed. But Jesus tells us plainly in verse 11 that the seed is the word of God. So I’m not the seed.

Maybe I’m the sower? A lot of people believe the sower is God, the one who sows the word of God. Jesus never actually says that, but again if “the ones (plural) on the path are those (plural) who…” and there’s only one sower…then I’m probably not the sower, either.

So, who am I in this story? Well, in this instance, I think that’s probably the wrong question. A better question is…who are “we” in this story? Because what Jesus is describing is an ecosystem, an interaction between sower, seed, birds, travelers, rock, thorns, moisture, and soil. In the forest, it takes just the right ecosystem for a seed to grow and bear fruit.

But for people to thrive and grow, it takes a healthy community. That’s our ecosystem.

So…what kind of ecosystem, what kind of community are we in this story?

The first ecosystem we encounter in this parable is the well-traveled path. There is a famous poem by Robert Frost, in which he says, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

I think Jesus would agree. The problem with the path in this parable… is too much traffic. Too many travelers trample the seeds, and too many birds carry them away. This ecosystem is too crowded. Some communities, (perhaps even some churches) are like that. The seed, or the message, is great! The community is great–lots of people all the time! But there is

no opportunity for depth, to put down roots. With all the coming and going, it’s easy to get carried away. Is your ecosystem, your community, like that one?

The second ecosystem is the rock. The rock is not a crowded place, and the seed does its job–it grows! But it’s isolated from the soil, isolated from moisture, and it quickly dies. This reminds me of people who try to grow spiritually all on their own–I don’t need a community, I can worship God anywhere all by myself! I’m spiritual, but not religious. There is some truth to that–the seed grows for a time. Jesus says in his explanation that they receive the word with joy–in other words, they get it! But without the support systems that a community provides, without nourishment, that joy quickly fades. The second ecosystem is really no ecosystem at all. Are you dying for lack of an ecosystem, for lack of a nourishing community in your life?

The third ecosystem is where the thorns grow. Obviously, this is a great ecosystem–the soil is great, the nourishment is great, stuff is growing, our seeds are growing! But the problem here is that everything is growing–good stuff and bad stuff alike. This reminds me of communities without focus or a sense of purpose. Everything is equally valid…and therefore nothing is truly valuable. And eventually, the things that have no real value choke out and destroy the things that do. Is your community…is OUR community like this one? In chasing after everything and everyone, do we find nothing, and no one?

The fourth ecosystem is just as mysterious. We are told that it’s good soil, and produces

a hundred fold, but not much beyond that. Jesus doesn’t say what makes it so productive, except perhaps for the lack of all the negative features of the previous three. There are some clues in verse 15: an honest and good heart, patient endurance, and obviously, the evidence of what your community actually produces.

If you’re a visitor here today, I want you to leave asking yourself the question, “What kind of ecosystem, what kind of community do I find myself in?” Is it a healthy, nourishing community? Is it too crowded? Is it too isolated? What is it growing, what is it producing?

And if you are a member of this community, I want you to ask the question, what kind of ecosystem, what kind of community are we? Are we those who hear God’s word… and our own words… and everyone else’s words… and go frantically chasing after them all? Or are we those who hear God’s word and hold it fast in our hearts,

bearing fruit with patient endurance?

Like a seed, Jesus was buried in the ground, sealed in a tomb. And from the fertile soil of his life, his teachings, his ministry, the living Word of God sprung forth, and took root in our world. It continues to spread today,

wherever there are faithful

communities with ears to hear God’s call

wherever there are faithful people with

voices to proclaim God’s love

wherever there are faithful arms to

reach out and embrace God’s children.

And wherever we find these seeds, we

will find resurrection and new life. Three old friends were sitting around one day, discussing death. One of them asked the others, “What would you like for people to say about you at your funeral?” The first friend replied, “I’d like them to say ‘He was a great humanitarian, who cared about his community.'” The second one said, “I want them to say ‘He was a great husband and father, who was an example for many to follow.'” And then the third friend, the one who had asked the question, thought about it for awhile…and then finally looked up and said, “I’d like for them to say, ‘Look! He’s still moving!'”

— We are still moving!

May the seed of God’s word take root in our hearts, breathing resurrection and new life into this community and into our world.

17 March 2019 Second Sunday in Lent

FINANCES

Your Gift to God

March 9-10, 2019

Over $100.00 1 $20 34

$100.00 2 $16-19 5

$76-99 1 $15 24

$75 0 $11-14 12

$51-74 1 $10 82

$50 7 $6-9 4

$26-49 19 $5 33

$25 11 under $5 20

$21-24 0 Total Envelopes used

256

Is your gift to the parish each week an honest reflection of God’s goodness to you?

Mass Attendance

March 09-10, 2019

People In-Church Collection

Average Offering

per person

4:00 p.m. 160 2,004.25 12.53

5:30 p.m. 49 537.50 10.97

8:00 a.m. 59 598.00 10.14

11:00a.m. 60 797.00 13.29

Total 338 3,936.75 11.65

REMINDER: In order for our parish to remain solvent, the average weekly offering per person MUST equal or be greater than $15.00 consistently.

Votive Offerings

Bread and Wine

Intention Josephine MacNelly

Offered by Cousin

Sanctuary Candle

Intention Scott Snyder

Offered by Mom and Family

INCOME

EXPENSES

March 09-10, 2019 March 07-13, 2019

PARISH COLLECTION Administration 2,528.58

In Church Mailed In Clergy Residence -0-

Loose 185.25 -0- Liturgy 400.00

Offering 3.500.00 618.00 Religious Education -0-

Holy Days -0- -0- Social Justice -0-

Initial -0- -0- Maintenance 916.58

Dues 219.50 126.00 Parish Assessment -0-

Debt Reduction 2.00 9.00 Insurance -0-

Holiday Flowers 30.00 38.00 Taxes -0-

TOTAL PARISH COLLECTION

$3,936.75 $791.00 Transfer -0-

DIOCESAN COLLECTIONS Diocesan Collections 624.00

Diocesan Collection

53.00 111.00 Debt Service

(Principal + Interest) -0-

TOTAL DIOCESAN

53.00 111.00 School Subsidy -0-

OTHER INCOME TOTAL EXPENSES $4,469.16

Candles 86.00

Rental of Properties

999.00

Perquisites 175.00 Previous Balance $4,048.70

Miscellaneous -0- + Income this week +6,151.75

Transfers -0- -Expenses this week -4,469.16

TOTAL OTHER INCOME

-0- Balance Forward $5,731.29

TOTAL INCOME $6,151.75

DIOCESAN ASSESSMENTS (July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019)

Diocesan

Assessment

School

Assessment

BALANCE

Prior

Balance 0.00 93,788.02 93,788.02

Current

Assessment 71,471.00 56,659.62 128,130.62

Amount

Paid 37,605.00 1,099.95 38,704.95

BALANCE DUE

33,866.00 149,347.69 183,213.69

The Monthly Assessment Installment for the Diocese is $5,956.00. (that is a little over 1 Weekend’s collection per month)

The Monthly School Assessment Installment is $4,724.40 (another weekend’s collection per month)

To pay off the total current and past Schools Assessment, the monthly installment would be $12,537.30 (3 weekend collections per month.)

PARISH DEBT SERVICE

Parish Loan Amount Paid BALANCE

Due

BALANCE 412,000.00 78,089.44 333,910.56

Please Note: The Parish Debt service has been paid to

date. This Account is current.

17 March 2019 Second Sunday in Lent

LOCAL EVENTS

American Cancer Society’s ROAD TO RECOVERY

PROGRAM

To ensure quality drivers, the American Cancer Society screens every volunteer. Volunteers must also complete online training courses to prepare them for their new role.

For more information,

please call 1-800-227-2345

or visit www.cancer.org/driver.

UPCOMING EVENT AT

ST. MARIA GORETTI PARISH

42 Redwood Drive Laflin, PA

570-655-8956

DESIGNER PURSE

BINGO Saturday, April 6

Doors open at 11:00

am Bingo from 1—4 pm $20 prepaid; $25 at

the door

Includes 20 games of Bingo

Food and Beverages will be available for

purchase

Contact St. Maria Goretti Parish for More

information 570-655-8956

THE GREAT POTATO PANCAKE SALE

at ST. LEO’S/HOLY ROSARY

33 Manhattan St. Ashley, PA

570-825-6669

Potato Pancake Batter Sale

Wednesday, March 6 $6 per container

LENTEN FOOD SALE

Fridays of Lent March 8, 15, 22, 29

April 5, 12 Beginning at NOON

Clam Chowder,

Cream of Mushroom Soup haluski

potato pierogi tuna hoagies

a weekly special soda, water or coffee.

Potato Pancakes beginning 3/15!

To order or for more information

contact St. Leo/Holy Rosary 570-825-6669

CHOMAN’S MOBILE CARE

Cemetery Care

Automobile Detailing

Power Washing

You can contact Chris at

(570) 262-3109,

or Book your appointment online at

ChomanCares.com

or by e-mail at ChomanCares@gmail.com.

ECO-FRIENDLY CARE FOR YOU

AND YOUR INVESTMENTS

The Slovak Heritage Society of Northeastern

Pennsylvania presents

Lenten Slovak

Hymn-sing

and

Traditional

Stations of the Cross

in Slovak

Sunday, March 17

2 pm

Our Lady of Fatima

Parish

134 S. Washington St.

Wilkes-Barre, PA

The church is handicap

accessible via elevator

Station Booklets will be

provided. You may bring your

own.

For more information, contact

Magdalen Benish at 570-823-

1222.

Exaltation of the Holy Cross Parish

420 Main Rd. Hanover Township, PA

18706 (Buttonwood) 570-823-6242

FISH FRY Friday, March 22nd

3 –7 pm Church Hall

EAT IN 0r TAKE OUT

Tickets: $9.00

There will also be a CHILDREN’S MAC &

CHEESE Option for $2.00

To order or for more information

call or text

610-844-2382.

Sponsored by HOLY CROSS MEN’S CLUB

17 March 2019 Second Sunday in Lent

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Waterson

WEEKLY CALENDAR

LITURGICAL MINISTRY SCHEDULE

March 23 –24, 2019 Third Sunday in Lent

4:00 pm 5:30 pm 8:00 am 11:00 am

Rosemary Shedlock

Sr. Tina Hanrahan

AJ Kondracki Jackie Barkus

Joe Boris Sr. Kate Morris Mary Ann Slavinski

Sandy Snyder

Ted Harowicz Elaine Klukoske AJ Kondracki Elaine Snyder

Brian Clarke Carol Zukoaki Geri Ulichney Matt Kurtz

Ann & Dennis Bozinski

Lori & John Morris

Sr. Madonna

Joe Stone

Second Week in Lent March 18-24, 2019

Day and Date Time Intention Offered by Events

Monday, March 18 Lenten Weekday

7 pm Leo Magri NO MORNING MASS 7 pm ST. JOSEPH NOVENA Parish of SAB

Tuesday, March 19 Lenten Weekday 7 pm Parish of SAB Pastor

NO MORNING MASS 7 pm ST. JOSEPH FEAST DAY MASS

Wednesday, March 20 Lenten Weekday

8 am MASS 8 am Jean DiMaggio David Alusick

Thursday, March 21 Lenten Weekday

8 am Geneieve Buczynski Regina Buczynski &

Family

8 am MASS

Noon: Exposition

6 pm Vespers 6pm Finance Council

Friday, March 22 Lenten Weekday 8 am Jennie Miller

Daughter Karen & Jerry Goldsmith

8 am MASS Noon Stations 3 pm Divine Mercy Devotions

Saturday, March 23 Lenten Weekday

No Morning Mass Scheduled 3:00 pm Confessions

Third Sunday in Lent

VIGIL 4 pm Edward Flaherty Michael & Evelyn Foley 9:30 am Faith Formation Catholic Relief Services Collection

VIGIL 5:30 pm Bernard Zajkowski Family

SUNDAY 8 am Joseph Melman Frank & Camille Glazenski

SUNDAY 11 am Parishioners Pastor

17 March 2019 Second Sunday in Lent