CAPS Report:

Our CAPS (Catholic Association of Port Washington/Saukville) Committee met on Wednesday, February 24, to continue planning for our parish cluster. The main focus of the evening was to be communication, however the Director of Communications of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee was unable to attend because of the weather. The committee did review a mock-up of a combined parish bulletin for our parish cluster and have sent it on to the parish councils to review and eventually to have copies available at our parishes for anyone interested to look at it. The first draft of the bulletin needs some adjusting, but the CAPS committee felt it was worthwhile to pursue a combined bulletin. We will reschedule with the Director at a later CAPS meeting. Then there was a good, long discussion on the Port Catholic Self Study that was presented at the last combined parish councils meeting. The CAPS committee is looking to engage the Port Catholic Forward Committee in more discussion in the coming months.
Father Pat

Weekend Mass attendance:
St. Peter: 4:00 PM: 467 10:30 AM: 419
St. Mary: 9:00 AM: 348 11:00 AM: 255
I.C.: 5:00 PM: 259 8:30 AM: 203

Scripture Reflection

We are now about half way through our Lenten journey with Jesus to Jerusalem. We are called during this time to reflect on just how we have used the gifts of God’s love and salvation, both unwarranted and unearned, during the past year, and to prepare ourselves to be worthy to receive the gift of salvation waiting for us on Easter morning. The readings for today examine our relationship to God, especially in light of His desire to offer us salvation, and the consequences for those who choose to abuse the offer.

Aren’t we all just a little bit like Moses in the first reading? No, we don’t get a message from a burning bush, but we are all called, if we are true to our relationship with God, to carry out His mission. And, don’t many of us question, as Moses did, whether we have the courage and ability to speak and act as required to do our part? Yet notice how God persists in convincing Moses that he indeed is the one to accomplish Gods’ work.

Following up on this we hear Saint Paul reminding his readers of this relationship between God and the Israelites under Moses as they passed through the desert. But, as he points out, despite all that was accomplished as a result of God’s help, the Israelites, by word and deed squandered this opportunity, and were struck down in the desert. And, he ends with the warning, “whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.”

Which brings us to the Gospel parable of the fig tree. God has sent His gardener to cultivate and fertilize the tree. Note he has been at this task three years, the length of Jesus’ public ministry. But, the tree is not responding, so the owner wants to cut it down. But the “gardener” convinces the owner to give the tree one more year, after all, it may still bear fruit, but if it doesn’t, then you can cut it down.

We probably all need just a little bit of pruning, and Lent is the time for it. Whoever thinks he is standing secure in his relationship to God, should take care to use this time to reflect on whether they are answering the call to maintain our relationship with God. We are all chosen, like Moses, to assist in accomplishing God’s plan. Take care not to fall, as the Israelites did. Use Lent to cultivate a renewal of your faith, and answer the call to do His work.

Lee Kaschinska, Principal, Port Catholic

Scripture Reflection

We are now about half way through our Lenten journey with Jesus to Jerusalem. We are called during this time to reflect on just how we have used the gifts of God’s love and salvation, both unwarranted and unearned, during the past year, and to prepare ourselves to be worthy to receive the gift of salvation waiting for us on Easter morning. The readings for today examine our relationship to God, especially in light of His desire to offer us salvation, and the consequences for those who choose to abuse the offer.

Aren’t we all just a little bit like Moses in the first reading? No, we don’t get a message from a burning bush, but we are all called, if we are true to our relationship with God, to carry out His mission. And, don’t many of us question, as Moses did, whether we have the courage and ability to speak and act as required to do our part? Yet notice how God persists in convincing Moses that he indeed is the one to accomplish Gods’ work.

Following up on this we hear Saint Paul reminding his readers of this relationship between God and the Israelites under Moses as they passed through the desert. But, as he points out, despite all that was accomplished as a result of God’s help, the Israelites, by word and deed squandered this opportunity, and were struck down in the desert. And, he ends with the warning, “whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.”

Which brings us to the Gospel parable of the fig tree. God has sent His gardener to cultivate and fertilize the tree. Note he has been at this task three years, the length of Jesus’ public ministry. But, the tree is not responding, so the owner wants to cut it down. But the “gardener” convinces the owner to give the tree one more year, after all, it may still bear fruit, but if it doesn’t, then you can cut it down.

We probably all need just a little bit of pruning, and Lent is the time for it. Whoever thinks he is standing secure in his relationship to God, should take care to use this time to reflect on whether they are answering the call to maintain our relationship with God. We are all chosen, like Moses, to assist in accomplishing God’s plan. Take care not to fall, as the Israelites did. Use Lent to cultivate a renewal of your faith, and answer the call to do His work.

Lee Kaschinska, Principal, Port Catholic