This Sunday’s readings remind us of the importance of seeing the world through God’s eyes, not just our own limited perspective.

1. God’s Perspective: Choosing the Heart Over the Appearance
In the First Reading from 1 Samuel, God tells the prophet Samuel not to judge by outward appearances, as people often do. Samuel is sent to anoint a new king for Israel, and though the first son he meets seems perfect, God chooses David, a young shepherd, instead. This teaches us that God looks at the heart, not external traits like power, beauty, or status. It’s a reminder that what God values most in us is not our appearance, but the sincerity and openness of our hearts to His will.

2. The Light of Christ: A Call to Come Out of Darkness
In the Second Reading from Ephesians, St. Paul challenges us to live as “children of the light.” He urges us to walk away from darkness—sin, selfishness, and confusion—and embrace the light of Christ. During this Lenten season, we are called to reflect on how we live in this light. Are we shining with goodness and truth, or do we still allow the darkness of sin to cloud our vision?

3. Healing the Blindness of Sin: The Miracle of Spiritual Sight
The Gospel of John presents the story of the blind man whom Jesus heals. The physical healing is profound, but there’s an even deeper message about spiritual sight. At first, the man doesn’t fully understand who Jesus is, but as he gains physical sight, his spiritual sight also grows. He comes to believe in Jesus as the Son of God. This progression from blindness to spiritual awakening mirrors our own journey in faith. Lent is a time for us to ask: Are we spiritually blind in any way? Are we open to allowing Jesus to open our eyes to His truth?

Reflection: Seeing with God’s Eyes
As we continue our Lenten journey, we are invited to ask ourselves: How do we see others and ourselves? Do we judge by external appearances, or do we look deeper, as God does, to see the heart? How often do we measure others by the world’s standards, missing the value and potential that God sees in them?
Lent is a time for self-examination and transformation. Let us open our hearts to God’s light, allowing Him to heal our blindness—both physical and spiritual. Just as the blind man came to see both physically and spiritually, may we also allow Jesus to reveal the deeper truths of our lives. May we walk in His light, becoming witnesses of His love and grace to those around us. Let this Lent be a season of renewed vision, where we see ourselves and others not by the standards of the world, but through the eyes of God—eyes filled with love, mercy, and compassion.

Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus, open our eyes to see the world as You see it. Help us to look beyond outward appearances and to recognize the hearts of those around us. Heal our blindness, both physical and spiritual, so that we may walk in Your light and become instruments of Your love in the world. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Fr. Varghese Puthussery SAC

As we approach the most sacred time of the Christian year 2026, we invite you to come together in faith and prayer to celebrate Holy Week with us.

Each of the liturgical celebrations during this holy season offers us an opportunity to reflect on the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us walk with Him, in prayer and devotion, through this meaningful journey.

Holy Week

Palm Sunday (March 28/ 29) The Triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem

Holy Thursday (April 2) The Last Supper and the Institution of the Eucharist

Good Friday (April 3) The Passion and Death of Jesus

Easter Vigil (April 4) The Vigil of the Resurrection

Easter Sunday (April 5) The Joyous Celebration of the Resurrection of Christ

Come, share in the profound liturgies, and experience the deep peace and joy that comes with the Easter promise of new life.

✨ We hope to see you there! ✨ Let’s walk together in faith this Holy Week. 🙏 Fr. Varghese

OFFICEASSISTANT APPLICATION

Job Title: Office Assistant – Part-time
Reports to: Pastor

Job Summary:
A Catholic Parish Office Assistant provides administrative, clerical, and receptionist support to ensure smooth, professional church operations. Key duties include greeting visitors, answering phones, maintaining databases, preparing the weekly bulletin, managing calendars, and handling sacramental records. Ideal candidates are knowledgeable in Catholic faith, maintain high confidentiality, and possess strong communication skills.

Duties/Responsibilities:
Key Responsibilities
• Reception and Administration: Greeting visitors, answering, and routing phone calls, managing mail, and maintaining office supplies.
• Parish Records & Database: Managing parishioner registrations, updating records, entering sacramental data (baptism, marriage), and preparing certificates.
• Communications: Gathering information for the weekly parish bulletin, creating, and printing liturgical worship aids, and updating the parish website or calendar. Create binders for weekend liturgies, including Call to worship, announcements, Liturgical ministry schedules.
• Operational Support: Supporting ministry leaders, coordinating room scheduling, assisting with mailings, and assisting with offertory records.
• Secretarial / Organizational Duties: Entering Mass requests, taking minutes at Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Council Meetings, sending email reminders of upcoming meetings and disseminating minutes for councils to review. Organizing current filing system and creating a digital filing system. Creating Quarterly Liturgical Ministry Schedules.
• Confidentiality: Maintaining strict confidentiality regarding parish matters, parishioners, donors, and sensitive sacramental information.
• Other Duties: as assigned.
Job Requirements
• Faith Alignment: A practicing Catholic who understands and lives according to Church teachings is preferred.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel), and experience with database software such as ParishStaq or similar.

• Communication & Organization: Excellent verbal/written communication skills and strong organizational abilities.
• Compliance: Ability to pass a criminal background check and complete diocesan safe environment training.
Required Skills/Abilities:
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to think on your feet and adapt to changing conditions.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite. ParishStaq experience a plus but not required.

Education and Experience:
• High school diploma: 3–5 years of general office experience is preferred.

Physical Requirements:
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds at times.

Sign up your child for Totus Tuus, popular weeklong summer program – This summer, St Peter Parish is excited to host Totus Tuus, a fun and faith-filled experience for children. Totus Tuus is a weeklong Catholic youth program dedicated to sharing the Gospel and promoting the Catholic faith through evangelization, catechesis, Christian witness, praying the Rosary, attending Mass, and praying at eucharistic adoration. The program inspires in young people a true longing for holiness, a deep desire for daily conversion, and an openness to their vocation.

Teams of missionaries, comprised of college-aged students and several diocesan seminarians, will travel to a different parish each week, hosting the five-day catechetical program for grades 1-12. The week is filled with faith, fun, and friendship. There are messy games and crazy skits, in addition to daily prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, learning the Sacraments, and going to Mass. The missionaries also provide a witness to being an authentic disciple of Christ. The popular program sees hundreds of children participate every year in the diocese.

Grades 1st-6th Monday July 6th- Friday July 10th
9:00AM-2:30PM Catholic Catechism through games, songs, skits, prayer and adoration. Bring Sack Lunch. Snack provided.

Grades 7th-12th Sunday July 5th- Thursday July 9th
6:30 PM-8:15PM Catholic Catechism through games, songs, skits, prayer and adoration. Snacks provided.

Cost: $40.00/family of 1-2 children & $80.00/family of 3+ children.