Notre Dame Parish

Cresco, Iowa

St. Agnes Oratory, Plymouth Rock and

St. Bridget Oratory, Bluffton     

                                                      Rev. Richard J. Ament, Pastor

                          Notre Dame Church:  223 2nd Ave. E.                                

Parish Office:  116 East Third Street

Phone:  563 547-3565       

Fax:  563 547-3835 

Wendy Schatz, Principal 563 547-4513     

Pamela Daley, CRE, 563 547-3565

Parish Office Staff: 

Peg Seifried, Connie Frana

Parish Website: 

http://www.iowatelecom.net/~ndparish            

School Website: 

www.aea1.k12.ia.us/notredame

Celebration of Sacraments

Baptism 

Next scheduled date for Baptism is April 3 (Easter Vigil).  Baptism Class is required.  Next class is scheduled for May 12, 2010,  7:00 p.m., Joseph Room.  Please contact the parish office to register for the Baptism class, to schedule a Baptism or for more information.

Reconciliation  Reconciliation is offered on Saturday from 3:10 - 3:40 p.m. or by appointment.  Contact the parish office for an appointment.

Marriage  

Contact the parish office at least six months before intended wedding date.

March 14, 2010

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Joshua 5:9a, 10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

             If no other story were remembered and handed on of Jesus’ vast repertoire of stories, the one of the father and his two sons would be enough.  This story gets to the very heart of God.  Jesus’ story of the father’s dealing with a wayward son and a faithful son tells us nearly all we need to know about God.  God sets His face toward humans—a face that invites humans to life with God, no matter what has been done.  The look of God toward human beings is a look that says, “I love you, no matter what!”  God created the human race out of love and for love.  God has never averted this look no matter how ridiculous and crazy and wicked humans have become.

This is the heart of the gospel message.  St. Paul captures it in today’s second reading:  “I mean that God, in Christ, was reconciling the world to himself, not counting men’s transgressions against them, and that he has entrusted the message of reconciliation to us.”

And since Jesus and Paul, the message of reconciliation has been entrusted to the Church.  To the whole Church, not just to the clergy.  The Church is at her very best when she embodies in word and deed the image of the father in that parable told by Jesus and immortalized these 2000 years.

Next week’s Readings: 

Isaiah 43:16-21; Philippians 3:8-14; John 8:1-11