We Rise from Ashes

By SHELLY HOLT

Dear Sisters in Christ,

As we step into this sacred season of Lent, we are invited to journey together in faith, hope, and renewal. I always think of the hymn “Ashes” which many of us sang on Ash Wednesday. It begins with the line, “We rise again from ashes to create ourselves anew.” Lent is such a powerful reminder that even in our brokenness, God is at work, bringing forth new life.

NCCW Spiritual Advisor Fr. Thomas Washburn wrote in the March issue of NCCW's President's Pen, "The ashes we received on our foreheads are not just a sign of our mortality but also a symbol of transformation. They call us to humility, repentance, and surrender - to let go of the things that weigh us down and embrace the grace that lifts us up. No matter our struggles, our wounds, or the burdens we carry, we are never beyond God’s mercy.”

The first months of 2025 have been very challenging for me personally and may have been for many of you as well. God is doing a transformational work in each of us and in our family, all the circles, institutions, and systems with which we are surrounded. Personally, illness in myself and various family members, death of a friend by suicide, being pulled in multiple directions due to being in the “sandwich generation” with challenges of elderly parents and my youngest grandson spending five days in the Mayo NICU due to RSV, all while trying to meet the needs of my clients, has at times taxed my nervous system. I teach my clients to “reframe thinking” and look at situations from all angles. I teach them to put themselves in the “eye of the storm” where it’s the calmest or “in Jesus' lap on the boat,” if they are Christian, breathing deeply and rhythmically to calm their central nervous system. I’ve had to practice this daily myself!

I choose to believe God is “upleveling” his people to himself as the chaff (non-essentials) is “burned away.” Sometimes it is the “good and Godly stuff” that needs to be put aside to get rebalanced with God at the center of everything and to draw closer to Jesus. The only true essential is looking to the Holy Spirit for guidance in how we are to become more like God as we use our God-given charisms to build up the kingdom.

By the time you read this, Lent will be half over. It may be time to recommit to your prayer, fasting, and almsgiving practices so eloquently described in the March Courier. The east side CCW Lenten retreat that was to be held on March 1 in Albert Lea is going to be rescheduled, and the date will be announced and flyers updated. The west side Council of Catholic Women morning retreat will be held on April 5 at Brewster from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. All ladies from anywhere in the diocese are invited to attend.

I’ll conclude with the rest of Fr. Tom’s column:

Like the phoenix that rises from the ashes, we, too, are called to riserenewed, strengthened, and filled with the fire of God’s love.

Lent is not just a season of sacrifice but a time of deepening our relationship with Christ. Through prayer, we open our hearts to His voice. Through fasting, we detach from the distractions that pull us away from Him. Through almsgiving, we extend His love to those in need. In each of these practices, we find healing and renewal, allowing us to rise from the ashes of our past into the light of His grace. As Catholic women, we are called to be bearers of hope. Whether in our families, our workplaces, or our communities, we can be instruments of God’s love.

This Lent, let us walk together, encouraging one another in faith. Be women who rise—women who lift each other up, women who reflect Christ’s light, and women who prepare our hearts for the glory of Easter.

Shelly Holt is the president of the Winona-Rochester Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. She may be reached at shellyholttotalwellness@gmail.com or 507-381-2842.