Dear Parishioners,
Our time in Lent is a special time having us to focus anew on the practices of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. It is fitting that we should also have the opportunity to gather our community for our Parish Mission. I am especially excited because this year our speaker will be Fr. Paschal A. Morlino, OSB.
The “OSB” indicates that he is of the Order of St. Benedict. My deacon formation was administered by the Archabbey of St. Meinrad, a Benedictine monastery in southern Indiana. I have to say that I owe a big portion of my spiritual growth to the monks of St. Meinrad. The Archabbey was built in the late 1800s in southern Indiana. My parish in Indiana conducted Men’s retreats at the Archabbey once a year for more than 25 years. I cannot think about the place without a warm remembrance of the interesting, joyfilled, and instructional retreats we had. The Archabbey staff also administered our deacon formation which culminated in a weeklong retreat at the Archabbey learning how to give homilies.
From looking over his biography, Fr. Morlino does not have a direct connection with St. Meinrad, but has been associated with several Abbeys over the long course of his varied ministerial career. He has been at St. Benedict Parish in Baltimore since 1984. I will not try to describe his vast and interesting experiences. But let me say that our Parish Mission is a time to reflect on our faith and a time to join with our fellow parishioners in asking where is God in our lives and how can I better serve Him? This is a time to have our faith touched and renewed. We have come through a terrifically difficult year. We are all worn down and exhausted by the challenges we have endured. Can you let God give you a gift of time and renewal? Come and join with us as we allow Fr. Morlino to help us rejuvenate our spirits. The Parish Mission is March 15th, 16th, and 17th at 7:00 pm.
Blessings,
Deacon Steve
