Dear Students,

We are entering the final stretch!  No, I am not talking about the upcoming end of the semester (though that is also upon us).  I am talking about the end of Lent and the glorious celebration of Easter, which is even more near.  If you were to enter our chapel this week you would notice that all of the statues and pictures are covered.  This is because these last two weeks of Lent, traditionally known as “Passiontide,” anticipate in an ever more intense way the coming passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ on Good Friday.  As we said way back at the beginning of Lent, this is a season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  As we draw closer to the end of this penitential season, I urge you to continue and even ramp up your observance of these traditional Lenten practices.

If you have perhaps been negligent in your observance of Lent this year, start in earnest now.  It is never too late to take up a fast, to start praying each day, or to return to the sacraments (especially by starting with a good confession).  And if you have been observing Lent faithfully this year, now is a good time to intensify that observance as we draw closer to the glorious day of our Lord’s Resurrection.

We have many opportunities on our calendar to help you in those efforts.  Here is what’s going on this week.

Eucharistic Adoration in our chapel from noon till 12:30.  Come spend thirty minutes in silence before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.  

Come to “Supper @ the Center” this week at 6:30!  We are serving up a taco dinner for you.  Our program this week will be led by Ann Marie.  There are only three more Wednesday dinners left in the semester, so don’t miss it!

I will be at the Pastoral Center in Charlotte for a meeting this Thursday, so there will be no Adoration.  If that changes, I will post it in our Facebook Group.
EDIT:  I received word that my meeting is being rescheduled, which means our noontime Thursday Adoration is back on!

Come pray the Stations of the Cross with us at 3:00pm.  For those unfamiliar with this devotion, it recounts the last events leading up to Christ’s death on the cross.  It was begun by St. Francis in the Middle Ages and continues to be a popular devotion among Catholics today, especially during the Lenten season.

This Saturday is the 30th annual Tuckaseegee River Clean Up.  We’d like to get as many as possible from CCM to participate.  It’s an opportunity to serve our community and spend a fun day out on the river!  Registration is at the UC Lawn any time from 11am till 1pm, but if you’d like to go with our group, meet at the Catholic Student Center before 11:00 and we will walk down to the UC together.  Wear clothing that you don’t mind getting wet and dirty.  You must also be wearing shoes that won’t come off during a swim (i.e. no flip-flops or shower sandals).  There is more information on the university web site, here.

Mass is at 4:00pm.  Please note our new time!  Come 30 minutes early to pray the Rosary with us.  Father is also available for Confessions at 3:30.  After Mass, our Credo discussion will be all about Mary.  Someone once said that Mary is like the moon, which has no light of its own, but shines brightly because it reflects the light of the sun.  So, too, Mary shines so bright in our faith because she reflects the light of her Son. Come learn more, and come with questions!

This Sunday is also Palm Sunday, which means we will gather before Mass outside in the parking lot for the procession with blessed palms.  

Next week, due to Easter break, there will be no Wednesday dinner, and NO MASS ON CAMPUS EASTER SUNDAY.  Please enjoy celebrating Easter at home with your families!  For those staying in Cullowhee over break, I will post the full Easter Triduum schedule for St. Mary’s next week.  Easter Sunday Masses at the parish will be the usual times of 9:00am and 11:00am.

ATTENTION GRADUATING SENIORS!

For all those graduating this semester – and this includes graduate students, as well – we’d like to honor you with a Baccalaureate Mass.  We are in the process of scheduling it, and it would help to know how many may be attending and when you are walking.  So if you would like to participate, please email me to let me know which commencement ceremony you are participating in, and (roughly) how many family and friends you think might come.

Wait for the Lord; be strong; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord! (Ps 27:14)  

May the Lord continue to shower you with His blessings this Lenten season, and may you be ever willing to cooperate with His grace.

Pax Christi,

Matt