Mission Intention for February That the mentally handicapped might not be marginalized but respected and lovingly helped to live in a way dignifying of their physical and social conditions. PRAYING: Lent is the time to start new patterns of prayer. Perhaps I haven't been praying at all. This is a great time to choose to begin. It is important to begin realistically. I can start by simply pausing when I get up and taking a slow, deep breath, and recalling what I have to do this day, and asking for grace to do it aa a child of God. I may want to go to bed a half an hour earlier, and get up a half an hour earlier and give myself some time alone to read the Bible readings for the day, and just talk with the Lord about those readings or about the stuff of the day. I may choose to go to Mass each day during Lent. I may choose to get to church on Sunday, just 15 minutes earlier, so I can reflect a bit. SECOND WEEK OF LENT - SOLIDARITY WITH OPERATION RICE BOWL: A small influx of resources can make a big difference. Hamsatou Tangare in Mali, a country in West Africa, couldn’t earn enough as a tailor to support her family. With a small loan from Catholic Relief Services, she expanded her business and could ultimately purchase school supplies for her children. Hamsatou meets regularly with thirty other women in her village to ensure accountability and help one another during emergencies. By praying and giving with Operation Rice Bowl, you too are shouldering their burden and expressing a profound message of solidarity. DIOCESAN SCOUT GATHERING: The Diocese of Ogdensburg is calling all Girl and Boy Scouts to a Catholic Scout Retreat at Holy Ghost Academy, Tupper Lake on October 17-19, 2008 on the theme: The Sacraments, Signs of Grace, Tools for Life. Part of the Retreat is a trip to The Wild Center. The Retreat concludes with the 14th Annual Diocesan Scout Gathering Mass with Bishop Cunningham at 2 PM on Sunday, October 19th. For information and registration contact George Herbert (Herbert@northnet.org) or Bob Buholtz (315-376-3327). MY LENT OFFERING TO GOD THIS WEEK: Mon: I will help feed a homeless person Tue: I will make peace with a family member who hurt me. Wed: I will confess my sins to God and pray to be more like Christ. Thu: I will perform a kind deed for someone. Fri:: I will ask for forgiveness from someone I have hurt. Sat : I will pray for someone who hurt me. NORTH COUNTRY CATHOLIC: The annual North Country Catholic subscription campaign begins this weekend. The price for a year’s subscription to the paper is $25 for Catholics within the Diocese of Ogdensburg. The North Country Catholic is the best way to be informed and stay connected with the 128,000 members of the diocesan family. Please enter your subscription today. Extra issues of the paper and subscription envelopes are available at the entrances of the church. SETON 20 WEEK DRAWING: Seton Catholic Central School invites you to participate in its Twenty-Week Club. Price of a ticket is $20. With this ticket you are eligible for a $250 a week drawing for EVERY draw for twenty weeks. Drawings are at halftime of the Seton Saturday night bingo. You will find application forms at the entrance to the Church. PURSUING JUSTICE: The New York State Catholic Conference's 2008 Public Policy Day, in which Catholic New Yorkers from across the state demonstrate their political strength in Albany, will be held on Tuesday, March 11, at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center.Make your plans now to attend this important advocacy day. There is no registration fee. Registration can be completed through the following web siter: www.nyscatholic.org.