Fr. Hien's Weekly Letter 02/14/21

My Dear Parishioners,
     How are you doing?  Blessings from our Lord be with you all.  Please join me in thanking God for a cousin of mine who was ordained a transitional deacon on Thursday, February 4th in Vietnam with ten other men.  These men will be ordained to the priesthood this coming July.  These men have been studying for the priesthood since they were in high school, close to twenty years ago.  I am hoping that I will be able to attend my cousin’s priesthood ordination in Vietnam this summer.  Sadly, I doubt that I will be able to travel due to COVID-19 restrictions, etc.…. Let us see what God has in mind for me this summer.  Let us continue praying for those who are sick with COVID-19 throughout the whole world and for the end of the pandemic. 
     This weekend is Valentine’s weekend, let us pray for every couple, especially those who have been married for a long time.  May their true love lead them to daily happiness and the blessing of eternal life together in heaven when their earthly life is ended.  We were created and given life to be together on earth as it will be in heaven.  Let us love one another as God loves us, unconditionally and all the time.  Happy Valentine’s everyone!
     Last week, we celebrated Catholic schools week.  I want to say on behalf of our All Saints Catholic school children and our children attending Catholic High Schools, THANK YOU to anyone who has been praying and supporting our children with your stewardship to our parish, especially your financial support.  You are making a difference in the hearts, minds, and souls of our children.  They will forever be grateful to you for your love. 
     Please join me for our Ash Wednesday Holy Masses on Wednesday, February 17th, at 8am & 12noon with our All Saints children and at 6:30pm Vietnamese/English.  To be safe from COVID-19 for everyone, there will be no distribution of ashes nor Stations of the Cross during Lent.  Stations of the Cross booklets will be available for personal devotion only.  Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence (no meat with only one full meal, and two smaller meals).  Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence (no meat).  Happy Lunar New year, year of the ox, to everyone, especially the Vietnamese in our parish, Fr. Hien