Lent Offers Us Many Valuable Opportunities to Grow in Faith and Community

As Ordinary Time passes quickly and peacefully by, it’s easy to be caught off-guard by Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. How many times have we quickly decided what to give up when we realize Ash Wednesday is here? Here is your little reminder to give your Lenten journey some thought before it begins. Fr. Philip offers us some ideas to share as we contemplate this great season of penance and preparation.

“The whole process of Lent is to help us grow in our personal relationship with Christ,” he says. “When our personal relationship and prayer are paramount, the rest falls into place.”

In addition to the traditional fasting and almsgiving, Fr. Philip is encouraging us to put some extra focus on our prayer lives.

“Set time aside to do personal prayer, even if you want to take three minutes out of your day,” he says.

Prayer with our families is just as important. Families can gather maybe once a week to pray together. We might read Scripture or a book about the saints together. These small additions to our routines can have a big impact on our spiritual growth. By taking these small steps forward in our relationship to God, we open ourselves to the gifts God has for us and He will carry us the rest of the way.

The church is also offering more opportunities for prayer. Every Friday we will have the Stations of the Cross, a beautiful meditation and spiritual walk through the sufferings of Christ. This can help center us and bring us back to the meaning of Christ’s Passion in our own lives. Stations of the Cross will be followed by a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration. All of us are encouraged to use this time for quiet, personal prayer.

“I encourage parishioners to spend more time in front of the Blessed Sacrament,” Fr. Philip says. “We have a chapel where people can come at any time during the day.”

Lent is also an ideal time to take advantage of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Perhaps some of us have been away from the sacrament for a long time. It can be difficult to return to Confession, but the graces that are waiting for us, whether it has been a month or 10 years, are countless. Christ’s Passion and death were to save us from our sins. When we accept the graces in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we show our gratitude for His suffering.

Parishioners will be glad to know that our Friday Fish Frys will be back as usual. We will have dining in the gym and a drive thru option. An alternative meal will be available for dine in only. The cost of the meal will be $7.

To learn about more Lenten prayer, formation and fellowship opportunities in our parish, please check the bulletin and parish website, or call the parish office at 817-478-8206.