Looking forward to February

Where the heck did January go? Here we are in the 2nd month of the New Year and we look forward to a great month. Why? Well, let me get it out of the way. It's February 1st and we are all waiting to watch the New Orleans Saints play in the Super Bowl. Here is a sentence I could never construct before: Saints in Super Bowl. Yet it is true. This coming Sunday, all of us from southeast Louisiana will watch with great anticipation, some emotion and sheer joy at seeing our Saints in the Super Bowl. We are all awash in preparing for the game; Saints gear is flying off the shelves, workers are being allowed to wear Saints jerseys to work, some schools are closing next Monday, restaraunts and other businesses are closing on Sunday and Church services, including plenty of Masses are being rescheduled (pastoral reasons!).

I know many of you will never understand the relationship we, as a community, have with the Saints. But we are excited and so looking forward to Sunday. Geaux Saints!

For us too we are in the earliest stages of Mardi Gras. Parades will be rolling in earnest this weekend and will continue until Mardi Gras Day on February 16th. Now I don't do Mardi Gras anymore but it is an amazing cultural tradition that makes New Orleans and the surrounding area so unique.

If Mardi Gras is the 16th then the penitential season of Lent begins the next day, Ash Wednesday, February 17th. The Lenten season gives all of us that time to reflect, repent, pray and fast as we look forward to Easter hope. The great Catholic traditions of ashes, Stations of the Cross, the liturgical color of purple and abstaining from meat is soon to be upon us. For my local Knights of Columbus Council this includes our Lenten fish fries.

February also is the start of LSU baseball and this year the Tigers will be defending their national championship. For a die hard LSU fan, Tiger baseball is about all we have had to cheer for lately. Geaux Tigers.

Yes, friends, I will be knee deep in ministry. February marks my 14th month serving God and his people as a Permanent Deacon. I look forward to the many and various opportunities God places in my path to be a servant.

And finally, come this Saturday this humble blog will celebrate it's one year anniversary. Thanks for your support as this blog continues to grow.

Welcome to February; make the most of it and walk with God every day.