PRAYER – FOR EVERYDAY AND EVERYBODY
Blessing of Living Water
Lord, where there has been dryness in my life, bless me with Your living water!
Where I fear to dream of new hope and growth, bless me with Your living water!
Where I’m thirsty for new and abundant life, bless me with Your living water!
Drench the parched earth with Your promise, bless me with Your living water!
Amen.
GOSPEL MEDITATION - ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE
March 8, 2026
3rd Sunday of Lent
John 4:5-42
Recently I received a note from a teenager I met years ago. He wrote, “Dear Father Muir, you probably do not remember me, but I wanted to thank you for your inspiring and humorous homilies at the parish. They helped me appreciate the beauty of Catholicism, which I have now embraced in a personal way.” That small note moved me more than he probably imagined. I had no idea my words had taken root in him. I was simply sowing seeds — week by week, Mass by Mass. Someone else — his parents, a youth minister, or God Himself — was doing the deeper work. Now this young man is joyfully reaping a harvest of faith.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus offers living water to a Samaritan woman whose life had been full of searching and disappointment. By the end of their encounter, she becomes a bold and joyful evangelist. Then Jesus turns to his disciples and says something easily overlooked: “One sows and another reaps” (John 4:37). He is helping them — and us — understand how evangelization works. Often, the one who sows the seeds of faith is not the one who sees the fruit.
This Lent, ask yourself: Are you in a sowing phase or a reaping phase? If you are sowing — raising children, praying for someone, mentoring — be patient. Your work matters. If you are reaping — seeing someone come alive in faith — be grateful. You are standing on sacred ground, tilled and watered by others.
Lenten challenge: Thank someone who once sowed faith into your life. And keep sowing, even when the harvest is unseen.
— Father John Muir
WEEKLY CONTENT GUIDE
3rd Sunday of Lent / March 8, 2026
SUNDAY'S READINGS - EXCERPTS TO PLACE IN YOUR COMMUNICATIONS
First Reading:
“Strike the rock, and the water will flow from it
for the people to drink.” (Ex 17:6)
Psalm:
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. (Ps 95)
Second Reading:
And hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Rom 5:5)
Gospel:
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again;
but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst;
the water I shall give will become in him
a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (Jn 4:13-14)
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass ©2001, 1998, 1970 CCD.
The English translation of Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.
©LPi
WEEKLY READINGS AND OBSERVANCES - ENGAGE PARISHIONERS IN DAILY MASS AND PRAYER
Readings for the week of March 8, 2026
Sunday: Ex 17:3-7/Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9/Rom 5:1-2, 5-8/Jn 4:5-42 or 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42
Monday: 2 Kgs 5:1-15ab/Ps 42:2, 3; 42:3, 4/Lk 4:24-30
Tuesday: Dn 3:25, 34-43/Ps 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9/Mt 18:21-35
Wednesday: Dt 4:1, 5-9/Ps 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20/Mt 5:17-19
Thursday: Jer 7:23-28/Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9/Lk 11:14-23
Friday: Hos 14:2-10/Ps 81:6c-8a, 8bc-9, 10-11ab, 14 and 17/Mk 12:28-34
Saturday: Hos 6:1-6/Ps 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-21ab/Lk 18:9-14
Next Sunday: 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a/Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6/Eph 5:8-14/Jn 9:1-41 or 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38
Observances for the week of March 8, 2026
Sunday: 3rd Sunday of Lent; Daylight Saving Time begins
Monday: St. Frances of Rome, Religious
Tuesday:
Third Sunday of Lent
Paul reminded the Corinthians, "We proclaim Christ crucified." Christ's weakness is stronger than any human strength. The power of the cross is greater than anything the world or evil has to combat it.
The Lenten season is one of repentance, self-denial, almsgiving, and prayer. Many in our modern world do not see any wisdom in denying themselves anything. Those swept away in a consumer culture want more and they want it faster, bigger, and better. They also are looking for easy and quick satisfaction, unwilling to wait long.
Paul speaks of the "foolishness of God" and how it is wiser than any human wisdom. Lent is a time to put aside that which we feel and think as humans and put on the attitude of Christ. The cross of Christ is neither easy nor fleeting, and it will ask us to deny our very selves for him. To the human mind it makes no sense. However, by putting on Christ and seeing with his eyes, we see reality with clarity. Our sacrifice can lead to riches that only a "foolish" man would covet. But it is exactly there that we are satisfied and fulfilled.
Mass Times
St. Albert
Saturday Vigil:
4:30 PM
15 Church St.
W. Stewartstown, NH
St. Pius
Sunday:
NO MASS
108 Colebrook Rd
Errol, NH
St. Brendan
Sunday:
10:00 AM
55 Pleasant St.
Colebrook, NH
9 AM MASS
ON MONDAY
Mar 9
St Albert
9AM MASS
ON TUESDAY
Mar 10
St Brendan
Office Hours
Monday: 8-3
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 10-2
Thursday: 10-2
Friday: Closed
CLOSED ON HOLIDAYS
WELCOME ONE AND ALL TO NORTH AMERICAN MARTYRS PARISH
Our Mission Statement:
We, the North American Martyrs Parish, a strong community of faith, Nourished by the Holy Eucharist, Guided by the Holy Spirit and Trusting in the grace of God, Dedicate ourselves to live God’s Word and Let the light of Christ shine through our Community. We strive to provide sound religious formation for people of all ages; To care for the spiritual, social well-being of one another With particular attention to the stranger and the poor in our midst.
“As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ John 20:21
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