BAPTISM: Lauryn Kathleen Trombley, daughter of Louis J. and Kelli (Gagnon) Trombley, became a member of the Catholic community through the Sacrament of Baptism on March 4th. WHY IS THE ALTAR REVERENCED? When the ministers (priest, altar servers, lector, Eucharistic minister) have processed to the front of the church, all except those carrying the cross bow to the altar. As they go to their places the priest presider goes behind the altar and bows and kisses it before going to his chair. The altar is a symbol of the Body of Christ. As such we reverence it. We do not treat it like an ordinary table, but place on it only those things needed for the celebration of the Eucharistic liturgy such as the chalice and purificator, the corporal, the bread and wine, and the Sacramentary from which the priest will lead us in the prayers. NORTH COUNTRY CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN: We are continuing our North Country Catholic campaign. If you have not yet subscribed to our diocesan newspaper, please consider a subscription. The paper will keep you informed of not only what is going on in our diocese but as well as the state, national and international Catholic news. Please place your subscription envelope in the collection basket. Regular subscriptions are $23.00 for one year. MY OFFERING TO GOD FOR THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT: I will pray for someone who does not have access to safe water. I will forgive those who have repeatedly offended me. I will thank Jesus for being my Saviour. I will stand up today for the teachings of Jesus. I will perform a kind deed for someone in need. I will ask God to forgive my sins. I will listen more attentively to a friend or relative. BRING SOMEONE TO CHURCH: It has been shown that many persons would return to the practice of their faith if someone would invite them to return. And, surprisingly, this is especially true if the one asking was at one time one of those who had left the practice of their faith. What greater time is there than to bring someone back to church during these days of Lent and the coming days of Palm Sunday and Holy Week. CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES COLLECTION: Next week our parish will take up the Catholic Relief Services Collection. This Collection makes possible the American Catholic Church’s global mission to combat poverty, provide relief and development, assist refugees and immigrants, and advocate for justice and peace in situations of conflict and neglect of basic human rights. Through the eyes of faith, the starving child, the believer in jail, and the woman without clean water or health care are not issues, but Jesus in Disguise. FAITH BITS FOR FAMILIES: God has planted in every human heart the hunger and longing for the infinite—for nothing less than Himself. Only in God will we find the truth, peace, and happiness for which we never stop searching. Created in God’s image, we are called to know and love the Lord. God can be known with certainty from his works in creation and from the spiritual nature of the human person by the light of natural reason, although there are many difficulties in coming to this knowledge because of humanity’s historical and sinful condition. By our openness to goodness and truth, our experience, our sense of moral goodness, our listening to the voice of conscience, and our desire for happiness, we can discern our spiritual soul and can come to see that this could only have its origin in God. We can speak of God even if our limited language cannot exhaust the mystery of who He is.