Thank you to all who have pledged to our annual Diocesan Services Appeal.  All members of our parish community are invited to join in support of our annual appeal.  Our parish goal is $14,203.00.  No gift is too small…every dollar donated helps those in our parish and in our unified efforts in the wider church.  You can submit your DSA pledge envelope during Mass this weekend, or take your DSA envelope home and prayerfully consider your gift decision.  If you wish to pay by credit card or electronic funds transfer, you may enter your gift online at www.dioceseoflansing.org/dsa.

Do you desire to be equipped to live into the fullness that Christ intended for each of His followers?  If so, this Day of Equipping, led by Bart Schucts of the John Paul II Healing Centers, is for you!  During this training, you will learn the foundations of abiding in Christ, hearing His voice and becoming empowered to pray for others as Jesus did.  If you desire the Holy Spirit operating in your life as described in John 14:12 and Ephesians 4, we invite you to attend!  This Day of Equipping takes place at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church on Saturday, March 30.  Lunch included.  Please RSVP by calling the St. Robert’s Parish Office at 659-2501.  Visit www.srbcatholic.com for more information.

Come spend a night with the Lord and pray for the good of our families, parish and nation!  Adorers will be asked to sign-up for one-hour periods.  There is a sign-up sheet on the table at the front entrance of the church.

• Friday, March 29—Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will follow morning Mass and continue until 6:45 p.m. Benediction and 7:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross.  Adoration will then continue after the Stations until Saturday morning Mass.  Confessions will be offered from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• Saturday, March 30—Benediction and reposition of the Blessed Sacrament will occur just before the morning Mass.  Good Shepherd will have a Saturday morning Mass at 9:00 a.m.

All are invited to help clean the Church on Wednesday, March 27th at 10:00 a.m.  Please bring a bucket, rags and lots of energy. Many hands make this task easier.  Come and join us!  Lunch Provided!!

You can help save lives when you give blood. A blood drive will be held 11:30 a.m.-5:15 p.m. Friday, March 29, at the Montrose United Methodist Church, 158 E. State St.

The event is co-sponsored by the Good Shepherd Knights of Columbus Council 8669. For more information or appointment, visit redcrossblood.org (sponsor code: Montrose UMC) or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).  Give the perfect gift.  Give Blood.

A few tips to make a donor’s experience successful: hydrate, wear comfortable clothing, bring ID and bring a friend. Donations are stored on ice until it is transported to a Red Cross center. Blood is available to be shipped to hospitals 24 hours a day, seven days per week. Donors must be at least 17 years old and in good health.

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.  For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59.

When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal.  The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards.

Those that are excused from fast and abstinence outside the age limits include the physically or mentally ill including individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes. Also excluded are pregnant or nursing women. In all cases, common sense should prevail, and ill persons should not further jeopardize their health by fasting.

Beginning on Wednesday, March 13 we will be having a six week journey through scripture series titled Genesis to Jesus.  The class will be held from 6-7 p.m. in the Knights of Columbus Hall.  Look for more information coming soon!