Pastor’s Letter: February 11, 2024

Pastor’s Letter: February 11, 2024

9 Feb 2024 | 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. Ash Wednesday allows us to enter the Lenten Season spiritually seeking God’s love and forgiveness. So many cultural, religious, and church traditions have melded into the Season of Lent as we know it today. We do not eat meat on Lenten Fridays in honor of Christ giving his body as sacrifice on Good Friday. We increase our fasting, praying, and almsgiving as a reminder that the Christian life is truly about self-sacrificial love. The regulations for Lent include everyone of 14 years of age or over is bound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays of Lent. Those between the ages of 18 and 59 are bound to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. A “fast” consists of one meal with two smaller meals sometime during the day, with no snacking in between. Fasting is of course a form of sacrifice, a spiritual reminder to our bodies that our will is in charge, and a way to remember that we all are called to hunger for God’s love and forgiveness. It is considered a serious matter to simply disregard the regulations for Lent, but always important to remember that health concerns of our utmost importance. We always have to use common sense when fasting. 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 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.

Once again this year, we have added weekday Confessions at 5 pm and Mass at 5:30 pm. The Mass invites us into full communion 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. We will have an increased number of opportunities for confession 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. I pray this Lent is a grace-filled time for you and your family. Have a great week.

In Christ’s Peace

Father David