Dear Parish Family,

Jesus' Transfiguration in today's Gospel drives home the purpose of our Christian journey to be totally transfigured into the image and likeness of Christ. St. Paul reminds his brother bishop, St. Timothy, to bear his share of hardship for the sake of the Gospel. Transfiguration can be a kind of fruitful hardship since it means letting go of our own ways of understanding and living and letting God direct our minds and hearts after the mind and heart of Christ. 

As we are still in the early innings of the Lenten season, reflect on how your fasting, prayer, and almsgiving are leading you closer to Christ. Do you need to "recalibrate" any of these Lenten disciplines (maybe striving harder in these areas, or if you are getting burned out perhaps lightening the load). Remember that the purpose of these disciplines is to deepen your relationship with Christ. Strive after everything that leads to this goal!

We have our Diocesan Evening of Confessions this week on Wednesday, March 4 from 5-8 pm. Every parish in our diocese will offer confessions at this time, as we will here at St. Mary's and St. Patrick's. We tend to see a lot of people this night who haven't been to confession in a very long time. We will have the Eucharist exposed for Adoration during this time, so please come pray a holy hour even if you don't need to go to confession!

We also have our Parish Lenten Mission coming up at St. Mary's on Tuesday and Wednesday March 10-11 from 7-8 pm. Fr. Jeremy Merzweiler is giving the mission. The theme is "Letting Go to Receive". Fr. Jeremy is the Pastor at St. Francis de Sales Parish in Akron. He has one of the kindest and warmest hearts of anyone I've ever met, a great approach to the spiritual life and a relationship with Jesus, and a great sense of humor! Mark your calendars for this Lenten mission next week!

It's tax time, and you know what that means! No, not headaches...Angel Scholarship! I just finished filing my taxes, but before I submitted I made sure I knew my Ohio income tax liability for the 2025 tax year and made my annual investment in ASF. As I put in my ASF investment in the scholarship tax credit line, I saw my Ohio income tax drop from the amount I owed all the way down to $0. In my scenario, I don't withhold anything from my pay in state taxes throughout the year, but if you do state withholdings in your paycheck or pay quarterly estimates, you can actually get a larger refund!

I've heard it many times about ASF..."Does this really work? Taxes confuse me. I don't owe anything in state taxes because I get a refund." Then, when people commit to ASF it makes total sense..."Why wouldn't I do this every year? It was easier than I thought. I understand that I can get even more of a refund based on my tax liability and withholdings." Everyone's questions and scenarios are different, but the sentiment is always the same year after year.

ASF has transformed our parish and student culture, bringing much excitement and opportunity to strengthen the vitality of our mission to form and educate young disciples for our Lord. In the past three years, we have been able to lower parent tuition commitments, raise teacher salaries, enhance student learning opportunities, and ensure that our parish investment in the school assists with the staffing and facility improvements needed for a vibrant, safe and secure learning environment. Take a flyer and contribution form from the back of church after Mass today, or visit stmarychardon.org/asf to learn more and contribute online. 

I am yours in Christ,

Fr. Scott Goodfellow