Sunday is the Super Bowl game. What a difference from this to last year. While many might watch this game in Wisconsin, it will simply not have the same power to excite and attract. Oh, for one better game. How different things would have been!

Isn’t that the case for us in some events of life? We sometimes wish we could change just one thing in our past. We imagine how different our lives would have been if we did just one thing differently. Just like the Packers, we now must live with the consequences. The difference is that we believe God always walks with us and can help us adjust to life as it is and ultimately help us get to that “heavenly Super Bowl.” As we look forward to the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday, February 22, use these weeks to decide just how you will spend these 40 days of Lent to make sure we get back on or stay on course to live as a faithful disciple.

Next week we will watch a DVD of Archbishop Listecki reminding us how important the Catholic Stewardship Appeal is for us, our parish, and so many others in the archdiocese. I have to report that last year we did not make our goal. In the past, we were looked to as a model parish which not only made sure our own parish was in good condition but also one that reached beyond our parish concerns to help the archdiocese. Please listen carefully to Archbishop Listecki’s message, and read the materials you will be sent. Perhaps this year we will make our goal once again. Remember that none of the money given to this appeal is involved in paying for lawsuits or the bankruptcy.

Friday is our parish fish fry. Thanks to all who work so hard to make these events happen. Hope to see you there!

The restoration work continues. There is nothing much new to report. Keep praying that all the “parts” come together so we can be in church for Easter. This now looks “possible,” a bit of a down grade from “probable.” Many things have to fall into place to have this happen. So far we have generously contributed $72,000 toward our part of the restoration project. I think it is safe to use a figure of between $250,000 and $300,000 as what we will have to pay for our part. A rough estimate of the damage now is that it will exceed $1,000,000. WOW!!!!!!!!

There are still two places available for the pilgrimage to Ireland this June. Please call Fr. Alan if you have some interest.

I want to thank each of you for your patience and understanding and for your financial support during this time of restoration. I know that some decisions made have not pleased everyone, but I hope we can understand the need for those decisions and “pull together” to get us back to normal soon.

-- Fr. Alan