Until we meet again...

03-31-2019Pastor's LetterFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

"Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her. Be joyful, all who were in mourning…" These words are taken from the Entrance Antiphon for Laetare Sunday also known as the Fourth Sunday of Lent.

This Sunday during Lent calls the Church to rejoice and to be joyful. Joy has been my experience throughout my time as your pastor. The people of St. Joan of Arc Parish have shared your hopes and dreams as well as your disappointments and sorrows. We have laughed and cried together. You have seen my weaknesses and limitations. You have always been patient and you have shown me love and appreciation. Through it all, you have taught me how to be a pastor.

I am grateful for the many ways you blessed my life. I take with me so many wonderful memories and blessings. We have prayed many prayers together. We have celebrated new life together as we celebrated the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, First Holy Communion, Reconciliation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick. You have let me a part of your families and welcomed me into your homes. You have allowed me to serve you as your priest and as your pastor. I am most grateful to have been your spiritual father and I tried to share to love of Jesus Christ with you.

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2019 Charity and Development Appeal

03-24-2019Pastor's LetterFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Many of you know about the Charity and Development Appeal, the CDA. It is our one annual appeal that supports so many in our community. What you may not know is that the CDA is often the basis for many of our organizations who help seniors, the homeless, those who have lost jobs, women who have been abused and of course, families in crisis.

The CDA is love and faith in action. Through the Charity and Development Appeal, your gift will go farther and help more people. It can help more than one parish, more than one program and more than one agency. If you have already completed a pledge or made a gift online, thank you for your support!

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The Battle

03-17-2019Pastor's LetterFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Many faithful Catholics are waking up to the reality that we are in a spiritual war - and every moment we are either falling under Satan's power or growing in our relationship with Christ. The culture of death is real. The stakes are high. Issues like alcohol and drug abuse; contraception, abortion, abuse, pornography and cohabitation are destroying families.

Our Lord knows that we all turned against God in some way. He wants to free each one of us. Jesus offers us a way to begin again by way of the cross. As the Scrutiny prayer says: "by the cross Jesus defeats Satan, the source of sin and death."

As we celebrate St. Patrick's Day, I invite you to pray his exorcism prayer. It is called the Breastplate of St. Patrick. By offering this prayer, we are putting on armor to protect us from Satan.

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A New Heart

03-10-2019Pastor's LetterFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Have you ever asked God to give you another chance? Your day has come… (actually 40 days). That is also the point of Lent— God gives us another opportunity to seek His mercy and experience His love. Maybe you need this Lent in a way we have not needed Lent before. Here is a simple way to look at repentance: Who? What? When? Where? How? Why?

Who is in need of repentance? That would be everyone! We all need to change some patterns of behavior, some bad attitudes, some bad habits… though maybe not entirely. Who are you in God's eyes? Who has God made you to be? Who do you need to turn toward to be forgiven? Who do you need to forgive?

What do you need to repent of? What behaviors or attitudes get in the way of your peace? What is weighing heavy on your heart? What thoughts plague your mind? What sort of things do you spend your time doing that are preventing you from moving closer to God and who He made you to be?

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Lent 2019

03-03-2019Pastor's LetterFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Lenten Season begins on Ash Wednesday, March 6, 2019. On Ash Wednesday, St. Joan of Arc parish will offer a 6:30am Mass, Confession from 7:00am – 8:25am, 8:30am Mass, a 12:00pm Liturgy of the Word and Confession from 5:30pm – 5:55pm, 6:00pm Mass in Spanish. Everyone who comes to Mass or the noonday Liturgy of the Word will receive ashes on their foreheads. The symbolism is powerful. The ashes are reminders that each one of us came from dust and will return to dust one day. The ashes on our foreheads are in the shape of a cross. Wearing this sign on our foreheads proclaims to others "I live for Christ".

For non-Christians, the Lenten season means nothing. But those who would like to grow in their relationship with Our Lord, Lent is a time to offer personal sacrifices by giving something up like a favorite food, doing greater works of charity, and praying more intently.

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