From the Pastor's Desk (2/1/26)

From the Pastor's Desk
2/1/26

Complaining vs. Being Grateful
In Colossians 3:12-14, we are told, “And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against another, just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”  At the beginning of this new year, it is so important for each of us to focus on being grateful instead of doing nothing but complaining about everything under the sun. Let’s be honest, life is far too short and precious for one to be miserable all the time. Our late Holy Father, Pope Francis, spoke about this when he said: “There are two kind of behavior that destroy love in the Church: complaining and gossip. They should have no place in the Church. I think that many times when difficult things happen, including when we are visited by the Cross, we run the risk of closing ourselves off in complaints. When we complain, we no longer have a horizon before us, only a wall.” Truer words could not be spoken! He goes on to say, “Some people are never content. Rather, they are constantly complaining. They never give a thought to their manifold blessings from God. They become restless and unhappy over trifles. It is not easy for such people who have this spirit of murmuring to receive greater blessings from God.” 
 
There are far too many individuals who complain constantly in parish life instead of offering thanks for the multitude of blessings they have received and experienced in their community of faith. As we continue in this new year, may we pray for one another as we continue in our pilgrimage of life together. May we all work to build a faith community of positive support, patience, and genuine appreciation for one another, instead of constantly complaining about everything and everyone around us. May we make it our daily goal to have a constant attitude of gratitude. Resist the temptation to complain and instead praise and thank God for who He is and all He’s done for you. Let us not murmur. Rather, let us be content in life. Let us be happy and “rejoice always in the Lord” (Phil. 4:4). Let us be thankful for our blessings and be characterized by a spirit of gratitude (1 Tim. 2:1).
 
Retake the Disciple Maker Index (DMI) Survey
It is hard to believe that three years have passed since our diocese first participated in the Disciple Maker Index Survey that was administered by the Catholic Leadership Institute. That initial effort helped our parish to understand where people were in their spiritual lives, providing the foundation for our pastoral plan for evangelization and to better engage all parishioners in deepening their relationship with Jesus Christ. Bishop Mark Eckman is inviting and encouraging all parishioners to participate in the second administration of the DMI Survey. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026 and running through March 29, 2026, the DMI Survey will be offered again. This is the exact same survey that parishioners took in Lent of 2023. The purpose of this second survey is to help our parish assess the effectiveness of the pastoral planning goals we set three years ago and to identify new opportunities and directions for spiritual growth and deepening faith within our community. Your participation is crucial. We urge every parishioner to take the time to complete this important survey. The results are essential for our planning process, allowing us to gain a clear understanding of our progress and chart the path forward. Please look for more details and information on how to access the survey in the coming weeks. 

MQSP Winter Carnival
The annual Mary, Queen of Saints Winter Carnival is coming soon! Mark your calendars for the weekend of February 13-14-15 and plan to attend this enjoyable event at our St. John the Baptist Campus. There is something for everyone at this event: Dinner & Dancing, Children’s Games, Raffle Baskets, Children’s Magic Show, Balloon Sculptures, Delicious Home Cooked Food, and a Super Raffle with $1,500/$1,000/$500 winners! Visit our parish website for times and schedule of events. 
 
Preparing For Lent – If We Want It, We Will Choose It
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 18. It will be a wonderful season of grace for us if we give ourselves to it. And we will give ourselves to it if we want it badly enough. In these days before Lent, we need to prepare our hearts. We can do so by realizing how much we want to grow in freedom, how much we need to lighten our spirits and experience real joy, and how much some part of our lives really need changing. Preparing our hearts is a process of preparing our desires. This means practicing a sense of anticipation. If I imagine Lent as an “ordeal” or a time I dread in some way, then I’ve already predisposed myself to not get very much out of it. The days before Lent are a time to anticipate something wonderful that is about to happen.  Before Ash Wednesday, we should start asking ourselves some questions and begin making some preparations. Each of us can ask ourselves: What does God want to give me this year? What will free me to be more open and more loving this year? It doesn’t take a lot of time to prepare for Lent. It just takes desire and focus. God can do so much with our hearts when they are focused. Therefore, think about how you will embrace our upcoming Lenten pilgrimage. Be sure to take advantage of the many offerings our parish will have to assist you in this special journey of prayer, penance, and renewal. Lent is a tremendous gift; let’s plan to make the most of it. Be sure to start marking your calendars as we move one week closer to Lent – make more time for Jesus and let Him lead and guide you from darkness to light, from death to life.