Pastor’s Letter: February 23, 2020

Pastor’s Letter: February 23, 2020

22 Feb 2020 | Posted by: chadmin

Dear friend,

Ash Wednesday is this Wednesday and marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. While Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation, the day holds a place of reverence on the Catholic Calendar. The day allows us to enter the Lenten Season spiritually seeking God’s love and forgiveness. So many cultural, religious, and church traditions melded into the Season of Lent, as we know it today. We do not eat meat on Fridays in honor of Christ giving his body as sacrifice on Good Friday. We increase our fasting, praying, and almsgiving as a reminder that life is truly about self-sacrificial love. We are most successful in life, and certainly the spiritual life, when we give of ourselves to others. Lent invites us into the virtue of humility as we recognize the need to overcome our and pride and selfishness. The great message of the life of Jesus, and especially his death, is the need to live and die for a purpose that is greater than any one individual.

We are called to live life in order to share life. This is an invitation to know and use our God given talents for the growth and betterment of our families and workplaces. The fact that it is so difficult for all of us to be concerned with others before ourselves, illustrates the need for Christ-like self-sacrifice to be realized in our lives. As always, we will have a penance service and increased number of opportunities for reconciliation during Lent. You are certainly welcome to call or email me anytime to set an appointment to receive the sacrament. As a reminder, in the Code of Canon Law, the Church asks Catholics to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation one time each year. The sacrament provides us with God’s healing touch, spiritually and emotionally.

Once again this year, we have added a 5:30pm Mass each weekday. The Mass is our most pure encounter with Christ. At Mass He teaches us, feeds us, loves us, guides us and ultimately challenges us to live a better life. As you consider your Lenten sacrifices and charitable acts, I hope you consider attending Mass during the week as a way to grow this Lenten Season. I know that you will be spiritually rewarded. I pray this Lent is a grace-filled time for you and your family. Have a great week.

God bless,

Father David