Lenten Message of Pope Benedict XVI

Every year, the Holy Father sends to the faithful of the Church a Message for Lent. You can read the whole message at http://www.zenit.org/article-21640?1=English

This year’s message begins:

Each year, Lent offers us a providential opportunity to deepen the meaning and value of our Christian Lives, and it stimulates us to rediscover the mercy of God so that we, in turn, become more merciful toward our and sisters. In the Lenten period, the Church makes it her duty to propose some specific tasks that accompany the faithful concretely in this process of interior renewal: these are prayer, fasting and almsgiving, which represents a specific way to assist those in need and, at the same time an exercise in self-denial to free us from attachment to worldly goods.

We ask each family to take a Rice Bowl home. Place it on your table or some central place in your house where all can contribute.

We Thank God

…For the blessing that He bestowed on the women of St. Mary’s who attended the Women’s Retreat last weekend. There were women from Tallahassee, FL; Waycross, Cumming, Atlanta, GA Tuscaloosa , Montgomery, Dothan, Eufala, AL. All reports have been very positive and they are looking forward to next year’s retreat.

There are still some openings for the Men’s Retreat Feb. 8,9&10.

Call 334-855-4474 for more information.

Listen, Reflect, Receive

Small groups begins for the Listen, Reflect, Receive program begin meeting this week.

Sunday: Ralph Mirarchi, Peg/Dan Bloodworth, Jennie/Don Canonica, Gerrie/Gary Padgett, John Pappion, Rose Ann Whitlow, and Brenda Wood.

Monday: Fr. Kane, Janie/Al Prickett, Kathy Watts, Cathy Barnes, Chris Randolph, Debra/Richard Hale, Earschell Tate, and Glenda Holden

Thursday: Fran Kochan, Sandra Shemwell, Robert Sevchuk, Marie Hudson, Michelle Christian, Gary Wittekind, Amanda Venafro, Rebecca/Bill Baggett and Lisa Sampson.