Dear Parishioners:
Well, it is one week down and five weeks to go. Today, we celebrate the Second Sunday of Lent. The first Sunday of Lent always focuses on the temptations of Christ in the desert. The Second Sunday of Lent is always the Transfiguration. After that, the Gospels on the various Sundays of Lent change from year to year (more accurately, every three years since we are on a three-year cycle of readings). As you know, I am in the Air National Guard and my unit is the 106th Rescue Wing in Westhampton Beach. If you have ever seen the movie, A Perfect Storm, that is my unit. We are what is called “CSAR” – Combat Search and Rescue. We jump into the water, parachute into dangerous areas, etc. State-side, we often get called to assist in hurricanes, flooding, etc. Our job is to rescue people on roofs of homes, etc.
I was “on drill” last weekend, when we had to evacuate the base due to the fires in the pine barrens. The fires were about ¼ mile from the base. I must say there was a tremendous amount of smoke. Thankfully, there was not too much damage.
As you may also know, the New York State Corrections Officers have been on strike for about three weeks. While the strike ended this week, many Correction Officers were fired. If the papers are accurate, 2,000 officers were fired. Three weeks ago, the Governor called up a few thousand National Guardsmen to staff the prisons. Chaplains were also activated. I was not activated in the first round but some of the Chaplains serving now need to get back to their churches/parishes etc.
So, I MAY (only MAY) be away for a week to 10 days to replace a Chaplain and until the whole situation is rectified. Our troops are actually in the prison, doing the work of the Corrections Officers. As you can imagine, it is quite stressful. We are also in all types of prisons: minimum, intermediate, and maximum prisons (like Attica, for example). So, I will let you know if I am going to prison! Fr. Lou told me that I would probably enjoy prison because there is limited food and it is usually cold – just like living in the rectory! I do not know what he means by that!
Don’t forget to look at our Lenten opportunities. This week is the Feast of St. Patrick (March 17th) and St. Joseph (March 19th); we have a feast for the Irish and the Italians; we’ll see whether Irish soda bread wins out over St. Joseph’s pastries or vica-versa!
I especially want us to focus on the Parish Mission; it will be next week (March 24th-26th). Coming to the three days would be great, but if you cannot make three days, please make an effort to come to come at least one of the days. Allow God to touch your heart! Remember: Together, we can do something beautiful for God.
In Christ,
Fr. Brian