Dear Parishioners of Mary Immaculate and Saint Rose,
By the time you read this, we will already be well into the month of February.  Already we have celebrated the Presentation of the infant Jesus in the Temple.  The candles have been blessed.  The Lord Jesus has been revealed as the Light of the World!
The feast of the martyr St. Blaise has passed.  This weekend we have the blessing of throats.  I already blessed the throats of the school children and a few others who were around for the actual feast day on February third.  This blessing commemorates Saint Blaise saving the life of someone who was choking.  In the blessing we invoke Saint Blaise, asking him to protect us from all diseases of the throat and every other evil.
February is the shortest month of the year, even this year when we have an extra day added to the month.
So it is ironic that the short month of February can seem so long. There are many reasons for this.  Christmas has passed and it is a long way to get to Easter.  The weather usually keeps us inside. Often the weather is cold and overcast.  Colds and flu are prevalent.  So there is a lot that can make February difficult.
It is a good time to remind ourselves of the goodness of God!  We just celebrated that Jesus was born among us and has come to save us from sin and death.  It is good to remember that no matter how difficult things might seem: Jesus is with us!
At the end of February on the 26th, we will observe Ash Wednesday, the beginning of our season of Lent, in preparation for the celebration of Easter.  Many times when we are nearly finished with Lent, I will have someone say that they haven’t put much of an effort into Lent.  We don’t want this to happen.  We still have a couple of weeks to think about how we will participate in Lent this year.  How do we want to prepare ourselves to be ready for Easter?
Jesus is present to us.  Jesus came to save us.  How do we want to use these winter days to prepare to celebrate the new life that we find in Jesus?
Lord, open our hearts to your grace.  Show us how to grow closer to you in prayer and penance.  Prepare us to keep a holy Lent.  Fill our hearts with gratitude and love for the sacrifice you made for us on the Cross.
Msgr. Cox