Next weekend our parish will participate in a collection to commemorate  the centennial celebration of the First Mass being celebrated inside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. For generations, America’s Catholic Church has served as the heart of spiritual comfort in our Nation’s Capital for local, visitors, and pilgrims. This National Shrine was built by and for the faithful of our country, in honor of our Blessed Mother, the patroness of the United States. Since 1924 more than 800,000 Masses and more than 7,000 Ordinations to the Priesthood have been celebrated in the National Shrine. Please help to preserve Mary’s Shrine for generations to come and honor our Blessed Mother through your generous gift to her shrine. We will have special envelopes available, or you can visit adw.org/Shrine100 to make a contribution.

 In a recent article in Aleteia, Cerith Gardiner writes: "St. Zita started a lifetime of housekeeping at the tender age of 12.  For 48 years she stayed with the same family, diligently carrying out her duties.  While she was devoted to her work, she also gave a lot of time to caring for the vulnerable.  She was so passionate about both her work as a maid and caring for the sick and poor that her impressed employer became close friends with her and allowed her to manage her own schedule."  
     Cerith Gardiner goes on to say: "You might not find cleaning your home as rewarding as this 13th-century patron saint of domestic workers did; however, you could be inspired by her.  Consider these compelling reasons to make your home clean and comfortable."
      Writer, Daniel Esparza, writes about a practical Catholic approach to decluttering for spring:
           1. Letting go of unused items creates space, both literally and figuratively, for what really matters. Spring bursts forth with life.  Catholics can extend this renewal beyond their homes into their spiritual lives.  Spring cleaning is an opportunity to declutter not only physical spaces, but also hearts and minds.  Just as Jesus urged detachment from material possessions, think of spring cleaning as an exercise in detachment.  As you sort through your belongings, be thankful for the abundance in your life and then ask yourself: Does this serve a real purpose? Can someone else benefit more from this?
           2. Decluttering with gratitude.  But decluttering doesn't mean becoming emotionless.  Some possessions hold precious memories.  Think of your storage space not as a dumping ground, but as an archive for precious keepsakes.  Make sure you treat them with due respect.  As you go through your boxes, make sure you see its contents and allow them to inspire gratitude for the blessings received--and that we so often overlook or even forget about.
           3. Sharing abundance.  Consider donating clothing, books, or household items to charities, shelters, neighbors, even family members who might need and cherish them.  By sharing your abundance, you make room for a lighter heart, closer to God.  
             "The act of cleaning itself can also be a spiritual practice.  Saints from all times were perfectly aware of the fact that there is a meditative dimension to manual labor.  You can think of dusting off cobwebs as clearing away distractions that cloud your connection to God.  Washing windows allows you to see the world with new clarity.  Offer each action as a prayer, a small act of service in gratitude for God's blessings."  Spring cleaning isn't just about aesthetics; It's about an opportunity to cultivate a more Christ-centered life. ~ Mary Ann

Next week: Can Personalized Diets Help Control Blood Sugar?