2025.02.09 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear Parishioners,

Last Sunday, The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, we celebrated the 29 th World Day for Consecrated Life. The first World Day for Consecrated Life was instituted by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1997, emphasizing the vital role of consecrated men and women—including religious sisters, brothers, priests, and those in secular institutes and societies of apostolic life—in the life of the Church. In his message for the World Day for Consecrated Life, His Eminence Frank Cardinal Leo wrote, “Communities of consecrated life are recognizable manifestations of the Holy Spirit at work in the world. They are signs of hope, charismatic eruptions that seek to bring light to places of darkness and despair.” As you know, Fr. Sojan and I are consecrated religious priests belonging to the international religious community, the Congregation of Holy Cross, with our members serving in 16 different countries. The contributions of the consecrated religious communities like the Holy Cross Fathers, the Jesuits, the St. Joseph Sisters, the Loretto Sisters and so many others are very significant. Please include all the consecrated men and women in your daily prayer. Pray that our service might further the things of the Kingdom of God and make the Lord Jesus known and loved and served!

This Sunday, the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, we celebrate the World Marriage Day. The purpose of World Marriage Day is to emphasize the beauty of marriage and to honour husbands and wives for their faithfulness and sacrifices. On this day we celebrate married love whose enduring power comes from the total gift of self a man and a woman give to each other. In celebrating this day, we remember that God, in Jesus, is always with us and with His help and grace assists us in all our efforts to live the love He calls us to give to each other. Here at St. Rose, we are blessed to be able to recognize and celebrate, on the last Sunday of each month, with the help of our Catholic Women’s League, our married couples celebrating their anniversaries. This Sunday, February 09 th at 2.30 p.m. there will be a special Mass at St. Michael’s Cathedral to celebrate married couples. However, we are all well aware of the challenges faced by the institution of marriage in today’s society and the many challenges that the married couples themselves face. Therefore, let us not forget to pray regularly for all the married couples and for the protection of the institution of marriage.

Fr. Vijai, C.S.C. ~ Pastor