Fr. Hien's Weekly 02/21/21

My Dear Parishioners,
     How are you doing after so many days of super-extreme cold weather?  Wow, it was so cold, beyond my expectations, and I am sure it was beyond yours too.  Thankfully, nothing too bad went wrong during this time both at church or school, such as the water lines breaking, or the steam lines, or broken trees, etc...  Today, I pray that you are well and healthy and COVID-free.  Let everything that is happening in life be a reminder to us that only God is perfect and that only being with God in heaven will we be with that “perfect” peace, joy, happiness, and everlasting life.  To be in heaven with God is our goal in life.  Yes, even during the cold days, I had to babysit my fish and quail.  Extra oxygen for the fish in the pond and extra shelter with heat, unfrozen food, and warm water for the quail every day.  We all must be responsible for what we have, especially to take good care of each other and the salvation of everyone’s soul. 
     40 days of Lent are here, a perfect time for us to increase our daily prayer with thankful hearts and penitent spirits.  It is also a time for us to remind ourselves of the importance of being generous before God with our tithe so that the church can continue our mission of education to our children and helping those in need.  Please know that fifteen percent of your contribution to the parish is sent to the diocese for so many other needs, including supporting the Catholic High Schools and feeding the poor throughout the world.  Please know that when you tithe to the parish you are fulfilling your tithe.  You are doing almsgiving before God for the good of others.  10 percent of your family income is the tithe that the bible asks of us.  If you have tithed less than that, then Lent is the time for you to catch up by giving to a charity or to those who are in need locally or overseas.  Let us be responsible for what we have, including the education of our children.  It costs the parish about $5,000 to educate one child at All Saints and it costs the diocese $6,850 per high school student; however, the parish pays only $3,700 per All Saints’ student.  Thank you for your stewardship that is benefiting our children.
     As a pastor, I am so glad that we are helping our children know and grow in our Catholic faith.  May they continue growing in wisdom and in love for themselves, their siblings-parents-extended family members and above all—for God.  Thank you to everyone who attended our Ash Wednesday Masses, let us repent and believe in the Gospel, Fr. Hien