Pastor’s Letter: February 19, 2023

Pastor’s Letter: February 19, 2023

17 Feb 2023 | Posted by: chadmin

The February 19 bulletin is available online

Dear friends,

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 have 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 pride and selfishness. The great message in the life of Jesus, and especially with 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. During Lent we will have an increased opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. 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 forgiveness, healing and peace.

St. Philomena will offer an additional daily Mass during Lent at 5:30 PM. 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 ordered to heaven. As you consider your Lenten sacrifices and charitable acts, I hope you consider attending Mass during the week as a way to spiritually grow this season. I can’t imagine my daily life without the gift of daily receiving the Eucharist. I hope our parishioners continue to grow in reverence for and love of the Holy Mass. I pray this Lent is a grace-filled time for you and your family. Have a great week.

God bless

Father David Richardson