Batman's Column

My Deer Parishionerz o St. Padre Pio,



It iz me, Batman, da rectory doggo. As winter comez 2 its end (we gotz NO SNOW ... BOOOO!!!), and spring iz around da corner, we needz 2 b careful, becauz dere r birdoz and squirrelz and bunny rabbitz EVERYWHERE!!!! Do not worry dough! I, Batman, da rectory doggo, will protectz u! Wen I goez out 4 my walkoz, I immediately goez on da prowl, racing 2 catch dem pesky creaturez off guard! I runz 2 da tree outside o church, da shed, da produce stand, da field, Rosary Hall, da cemetery, den back 2 da field, da Garden o Saintz, da Grotto. I ... iz everywhere, hoping against hope dat dey will not expect ... ME! But dey doez. And I become saddo. Fortunately, we haz a God

dat showz us dis Sunday 2 expect de unexpected! God sendz Samuel 2 choose da next king of Israel, but it wasn't who Samuel thought it would b. Da Lord remindz Samuel dat "Not as man sees does God see ..." Da Lord knew in

His heart dat David wuz da guy, even dough he wuz da least likely o da bunch!  Even in John's Gospel, da Jewish people had preconceived (my $25 word o da day) notions about why dat poor guy wuz born blind. Dey thought it wuz becauz o some family sin. But Jesus not only tellz dem dat it wasn't because of personal sin, He wuz going to use dis man "... so that the works of God might be made visible ..." And BOY DID HE!!! Now da crazy ting iz dat God wantz 2 work de unexpected in US!!! He wantz 2 use us dis Lent 2 make Himself and His workz and His plan o salvation known. But da Lord will not force Himself on us. He needz our YES in order 2 help us and da whole world see! During this Sunday in Lent, may we turn 2 God in order 2 open our heartz, open our eyez, open our soulz 4 da glory o His name and point 2 da celebration o Easter dat iz right around da bend!

God Bless (and READY O NOT HERE I COMEZ!!!)!

Batman, da rectory doggo