St John catholic church

From Your Pastor’s Desk
Here we are well through Lent 2020. What a Lent it has been -- complete with the  Novel Corona Virus! 
If you are like most of us – you’ve already struggled with your Lenten Resolutions – perhaps you have even flat out failed and fallen.  Do not be discouraged – Christ Himself fell 3 times on His way to Calvary – but He got back up each time and so can you! Here are some special prayers to help you through this week. Please take a few seconds each morning to pray the corresponding prayer and receive the Grace sufficient for that day – Grace enough to help you on your journey through Lent, and through all that is happening around us, one day at a time.
Sunday: Loving Father, so many times I turn away from you and always you welcome me back. Your mercy and love give me confidence. Thank you for the invitation to share, fast and pray so that you can form a new heart within me. Your powerful compassion for my weaknesses leads me to ask for mercy and await with great hope the Easter joy you share with us.
Monday: Merciful God, Free your Church from the sins of this world and protect us from evil we see and the evil we prefer to ignore. We need your guidance, Lord, for we cannot do this alone. Only with your help can we be saved. Thank you for your desire to save us and love us.
Tuesday: God of infinite love, I thank you for this reminder of your love and your call that we be more patient, gentle and compassionate with others. Here in the middle of Lent, I turn to you to beg for your help. Please soften my heart. Help me to let go of judging others. I ask you this, in Jesus’ name.
Wednesday: God, you love me as your own child. May I bend my life and will toward you so that I might accept your teaching and guidance. I am so grateful for your support in my life, now, and in the eternal life you are preparing for me. I beg for your help and Spirit in my life today.
Thursday: Loving God, I hear your invitation, “Come back to me,” and I am filled with such a longing to return to you. Show me the way to return. Lead me this day in good works I do in your name and send your Spirit to guide me and strengthen my faith. I ask only to feel your love in my life today.
Friday: God of Mercy, I feel my heart overflowing with your tenderness. I sense your loving touch deep within my soul. I ask for your help in my weakness that I might be faithful to your word and I am so grateful that your mercy for my failings is as strong as your unbounded love for me.
Saturday: God of Mercy and Understanding, I know that with help I can open my heart more fully to the mysteries of the suffering and death of your son. Help me to be humble in this journey and remember that any mercy and compassion I feel is a gift from you. I await the joy of Easter with new longing and patience.
Remember – Life is a Journey – Not a Destination. And, we journey together.
Please know that all of you and your family remain in my prayers -- especially in this most difficult of times. We will, together, get through this -- and I believe be stronger for this experience. Let us all lean on each other, let us all care for each other. 
Blessings to all of you -- and please be safe. 
Father Brooks
P.S. In this time of social distancing, please know that I will be live streaming (on Facebook) the celebration of Mass this weekend, at 9:00am at St. John in Naches and at 1:00pm at St. Juan Diego in Cowiche. I urged all of you to join me.