From www.simplycatholic.com:

The day’s theme comes from the entrance antiphon reflecting on Isaiah 66:10-11: “Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her. Be joyful, all who were in mourning; exalt and be satisfied at her consoling breast.”

Laetare is the first word — meaning “rejoice” — in the Latin text. On Laetare Sunday (as similarly with the Third Sunday of Advent’s Gaudete Sunday) the Church expresses hope and joy in the midst of our Lenten fasts and penances. Call it pink — or, more fittingly, rose — this change in color indicates a glimpse of the joy that awaits us at Easter, just before we enter into the somber days of Passiontide.

Laetare Sunday is the Church’s way of giving us a “shot in the arm” as we approach the darkness and horror of the days through Good Friday and Holy Saturday. It’s an opportunity to savor and keep in the back of our minds what awaits us on Easter Sunday — the reality that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, and that our hearts will always be filled with joy!

There are still plenty of slots to fill for set up, serving and clean up.  Please visit the Sign-Up Genius Link below and take a shift or two to help welcome the Jackson Community to our parish to celebrate Jesus’ great triumph over death and darkness!

We are making zero progress filling the open hours on the chapel schedule.  Give God an hour each week and see what you get in return.  We need committed adorers to fill the following hours:

Sunday 2pm

Friday 10pm

Here is the Lenten Regional Penance Service Schedule:

FATIMA:               Thurs April 3, 7pm

ST. RITA:              Mon April 7, 7pm

QUEENS:             Wed April 9, 7pm

ST. JOHN:            Thurs April 10, 7pm

ST. MARY:            Sat April 12, 10am

Confessions are available every Saturday morning at St Mary from 10 – 11am and every Saturday afternoon at Queens from 3:30 – 4:30pm.  Or by appointment. 

Join us for Stations of the Cross on Fridays at 7pm.  All are welcome to pray the stations with the school children at 2:15pm on April 4 and 11. For those looking to do something extra this Lent, you might consider spending more time praying in church or the chapel or perhaps attend a daily Mass during the week in addition to Sunday.

Our last Lenten Supper is being moved to the gym this week so we can look at the big screen as I share photos and memories of being in Rome for the funeral of Pope St. John Paul II and the conclave that elected Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger to become Pope Benedict XVI.

The final soup is Gnocchi!  Thank you to Janet Merrill and Denise Doerr for cooking all the meals and to Jeannette Lienhart for helping serve! 

THE 2025 DIOCESAN SERVICES APPEAL continues.

Here is a DSA pledge total update as of March 30th:

Pledged: 145,273 (66% of goal)

Donors:  303 (20% of parishioners)

Average gift:  $479

Amount left to goal:  $74,491

Goal:  $220,214

We need a lot of help to raise the $75,000 that will get us to our goal.  I increased my gift by 25% to help us get there.  I hope those who have been past supporters of the DSA who have yet to make a gift this year will please consider doing so.  I know that many are already paying on their saints and scholars pledge, but the need is great in both areas and from those to whom much has been given, more will be asked.  God will not be outdone in generosity!

DSA accounts for 2/3 of the diocesan operating budget and funds 100 programs and ministries that are vital to the ongoing work of the church across the Diocese.  Queens’ goal is $220,214 to help the Diocese reach its goal of $5,750,000.  Anything we raise over goal is split 50/50 with the Diocese.  

DSA helps Catholic Charities achieve its mission to life up the least among us.  It pays for the care of our future priests and senior priests, prison and jail ministry, outreach to the elderly and the homebound, pro life, marriage and family ministry, and so much more.  

There may be some confusion as people are making payments to the DSA and the Saints and Scholars Campaign at the same time.  DSA checks are payable to Queens and should be put in the offertory or sent to the office.  For payment of campaign pledges, checks should be made payable to Saints and Scholars and sent to the Catholic Foundation using the address on the pledge reminder billing statement. 

May our Lenten Pilgrimage lead us through the sufferings of Calvary to the glories of Easter and the promises of Heaven and Happiness. 

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teaching” (Heb 13:8-9).

Fr. Tim MacDonald

Pastor