There are many choices we make in our lives. There are the everyday ones such as deciding what to wear for the day and what to eat. We think about whether or not we will go to a doctor when we are not feeling well and how soon we will go. Then there are the major decisions that affect who we are and the responsibilities we freely choose. One of the questions we ask when a couple comes in to arrange a wedding is, “Are you giving your consent to this marriage freely and of your own accord?” Marriage is a wonderful choice for a man and a woman to give themselves to each other totally and completely. It is a choice to stand with and support one another, “in good times and in bad” and to “love and honor one another all the days of their lives.” That is an awesome, powerful, life-giving choice.Then there is the choice to have children and to nurture them with their love - another awesome, powerful, and life-giving choice.

“O, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?” These words from our national anthem that is sung so often at public gatherings are printed as a question in the version that I read. It is not so much asking does a flag or what it symbolizes wave over our land, but are we truly free and brave? We as Catholics have an even more powerful and inspirational sign hanging in places in our home and in places of honor and reverence in our church buildings, we have crucifixes with Jesus hanging on them. There is no greater example of love, freedom, and bravery.

Now what? Simply put, the purpose of offering FORMED to the parish is to help us grow in knowledge of our faith. St. Peter in his first letter tells us, “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope” (3:15). As Catholics, we have a responsibility to know about our faith, we don’t just live by blind faith. Very often learning about what the Church teaches can be overwhelming.

Our society has a great need to speak about the faults of others. Look at the news on TV or in the newspapers. There is much more pointing out faults and the evil that is done by human beings than is speaking about the good that is done every day.

We began the season of Lent by having ashes placed on our foreheads and being told: “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.” We were not told to avoid the sins of others or to stop talking about them, but to look into our own hearts to see where we need to turn away from our personal sins. Most of us do not commit sins or do evil that would make headlines in the news, but whenever we sin we become far less than we are capable of being.

I am going to tell you something about myself and how you something about myself that I have never told or shown anyone before. Who do we trust enough to say or do such a thing? That is the message of today’s Gospel as Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on a mountain and is transfigured before them. Transfiguration is defined as a complete change of form or appearance into a more beautiful or spiritual state. That is exactly what these three disciples see in Jesus. Not only do they see Him in His heavenly glory which He humbly set aside to become one with us in our humanity, they see Moses and Elijah speaking with Him.

A key part of Lent and of our life long relationship with God is prayer. Prayer can be restful and soothing or it can be fretful and anxious. It is restless when we use the time we are praying to think about all the things we have to do, all that is beyond our control, and all we want, rather than all we truly have and need. This inner restlessness in our hearts is caused by a lack of focus on who and what is important in our lives. Unless and until we can slow down and focus on God’s goodness and blessings in our lives, we will always seek fulfillment in material things, physical activities, and what other people think of us.

This coming Wednesday, February 14th is Valentine’s Day. It is a day where we remember in a special way those whose love has nurtured us and express our gratitude to them. This year Wednesday, February 14th is even more life-giving as we begin our spiritual journey to Easter as we have blessed ashes placed on our foreheads. It is our 40-day time to look into our hearts and see the overpowering presence of God’s love.

The Pastor's Letter for this week was written by our associate pastor, Fr. Sean Magaldi.

My Dear Friends in Jesus Christ and our Blessed Mother,

Over the course of my time at St. Patrick’s a question that has come up many times has been about solid Catholic content. People have asked me, how can I learn more about our faith? Where can I learn more about the Bible? Do you know any good videos that I can show my children? Often times I’m left without answers. We have opportunities for ongoing formation here at St. Patrick’s, however sometimes it is difficult for people to get out at night or attend all the classes offered.

In the beginning of the third Eucharistic Prayer used at Mass, there are these words: “Through your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, by the power and working of the Holy Spirit, you give life to all things and make them holy.” On many days when I pray this Eucharistic Prayer, these words jump out at me. God is the author and creator of all life. How blessed we are to be alive and to know that our life is a gift from God.

One of the gifts of children is to be inspired by their sense of wonder and awe. When I would take my nephew who is now in third year college to the beach before he went to kindergarten he would express wonder at what was so easily taken for granted. One day in January around the year 2000, we went to a local beach in Greenport. It was a cold but very calm and clear day. You could walk out on the dock there and look down and clearly see the bottom of the bay. In his enthusiasm, recognizing the beauty of the day and the beach, he innocently asked, "Where is everybody?" Why weren't there more people to enjoy this beach on such a beautiful day, was his thought.

In communication, we have gone from word of mouth, to writing letters, to telegrams, to phone calls, to e-mails, to texting, to Facebook. We certainly have the resources today to communicate and speak to one another instantly and frequently. But no matter how many texts we receive or Facebook friends we have, there is still no substitute for being personally in the presence of those we love and those who love us.

One of the amazing conveniences we so take for granted is our ability to travel great distances in short periods of time. Back in the nineteenth century, many people migrated to the west on different trails by wagon train. The Oregon Trail that began in Kansas City was 2,170 miles long and brought the travelers to valleys in Oregon. That trip by covered wagon took four to five months at a rate of fifteen to twenty miles a day. Today we can easily travel that distance by airplane in a matter of hours and by car in a matter of a few days.