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Church of St Benedict
Church • Broken Arrow, OK • 3 members • 1 follower
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- Dear parishioners, Blessings! I thank all who came to the Sacrament of Reconciliation Wednesday night. 14 priests heard confessions for nearly 3 hours and over 500 people came. The priests were very impressed by the devotion to the Sacrament and the graciousness and hospitality of you, thank you. This weekend we are blessed to have Father Steve Austin in our parish. Father Steve is pastor of Saint Francis de Sales parish in Idabel, Oklahoma in McCurtain County. It is in far southeastern Oklahoma and it is the 3rd largest county in the state. McCurtain County also was the first area of the state that was settled and the town of Miller, no longer existing was the first town in Indian Territory. Wheelock Presbyterian mission Church, which still stands, is also the first church in Oklahoma, being built in 1833. My own family settled there in 1834 as part of the forced migration of the Choctaw people. McCurtain County is also where poverty is at its worst in the state. 1 in 4 people live in poverty, 1 in 3 children and people over 65 live in poverty. It is a beautiful place and Saint Francis parish has about 125 families who are faith filled, good, hard working people as are the people of McCurtain County. I first met Father Steve in 1978, as a young seminarian and I was a college student. I have always looked up to Father Steve and he is a fine and holy priest. He would say that his claim to fame is he is the brother of Sister Barbara Austin, O.S.B. who many know. Father Steve will preach at all Masses and share the joys, of which there are many and struggles of the rural Church in Oklahoma. We will be blessed by his words. In addition, as part of our Lenten practice of sharing with the needy, there will be a 2nd collection at the Masses for his parish whose weekly offering is around $900. We all want our gifts to be used wisely, know100% of the offering will be used directly for ministry; what you and I give will go to people and their assistance, please be as generous as you can to this offering but I know you will as you are generous and good people. On Tuesday Father Steve will say the 8:30a.m. Mass and then 15 of our young people will head to his parish to spend 3 days in the parish doing manual work, please include them in your prayers. Lenten Friday meals continue and for your info the Holy Week Schedule is: Holy Monday 8:30a.m. Mass Holy Tuesday 8:30a.m. Mass Holy Wednesday (Spy Wednesday) 8:30a.m. Mass 5:30p.m. Chrism Mass at the Cathedral Adoration will end at 5:00p.m. here. Holy Thursday 7:00p.m. Mass of the Lord’s Supper No adoration during the Day, but Adoration after the evening Mass until 10:00p.m. Good Friday 7:00p.m. Good Friday Service Holy Saturday 8:00p.m. Vigil Mass Easter Sunday 7:15a.m., 9:15a.m. and 12 Noon Mass, there is no 5:00p.m. Mass on Easter Sunday Pax, Father Joe Announcements Please sign up for the blood drive this weekend. Remember the Knights of Columbus Easter egg hunt Easter Sunday, 2:00p.m. at All Saint School REMEMBER TO SPRING FORWARD THIS WEEKEND, move your clock ahead one hour Saturday night.