From Pastor’s Column: Fr. Justus Alaeto

Spiritual Programs for Holy Week and Easter Coming up Soon in our Parish
 
Beloved brothers and sisters, Blessings of the Lenten season to you, your family, and loved ones. I pray and believe that our Lenten observances are going well.. Thank you for doing everything for the love of God.
 
May I first thank you for attending the Ecumenical Services held in our parish last week on Wednesday, presided by Bishop Peter L. Smith, our Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. The Ecumenical program was well attended. In a very special way, I wish to express my gratitude on behalf of Star of the Sea and St. Charles to other churches and their pastors who attended. May the spiritual fruits of this Lenten season keep blessing you always and forever, Amen.
 
This week and next, we have more spiritual programs coming up: The first is on Tuesday, April 2. We have a penitential service and confession at Gold Beach at 4 p.m. followed by Mass. On Thursday, April 4, at Star of the Sea Brookings, we will have a penitential service and confession starting at 6:30 pm. The penitential service and confession prepare us within and purify us to embrace the joy of the Easter celebration. This is a great spiritual opportunity to reconcile with God in Jesus Christ and our neighbor. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a celebration of God’s love and forgiveness. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, through the act of absolution and penance, our sins are forgiven and wiped away. We are made new again in Christ Jesus. Our relationship with God at that point enjoys a fresh spiritual start. Most of all, we are reconciled with the Church who was wounded by our sins. It is a time to be reconciled with God and our neighbors. To go to confession is an expression of humility and dependence on God. It does not really matter how long one has been away from God, but what truly matters is how willing are we to come back to God fully with our whole heart.
 
On Friday, April 5 ^th, we will have our First Friday “parish day of prayer and Adoration.” This will be the first time we are doing such a wonderful spiritual encounter with God during Lent, a great time to reconnect with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Please bring your petition to the Altar of God. Because this month’s Friday Adoration falls during Lent, we will modify our schedule and have Stations of the Cross in between, before the blessing and sprinkling of the Holy Water.
 
At Star of the Sea, on Saturday, April 6 ^th, we will start with a Marian Mass at 8:30 am, followed by an Easter retreat for all parishioners from 9:30 am through 1:00 pm. It will be an engaging spiritual retreat, and we will have three special speakers for the retreat coming from Portland, Oregon. Like I mentioned, this retreat will certainly help to prepare us for Holy Week and the Easter celebration. Our spiritual life and salvation matter more than anything else in life. May the Lord Jesus, the Savior continue to inspire us within to draw closer to Christ. Amen!