From the Pastor's Desk: March 1, 2020

From the Pastor’s Desk:                                                                                                                       March 1, 2020
 
Today we celebrate the First Sunday of the Holy Season of Lent.  The forty days of Lent that we began on Ash Wednesday unites us to the forty-day experience of Jesus in the desert in preparation to begin His earthly ministry. For most of us, however, the forty–day period of Lent, which comes from the Anglo-Saxon word lencten, meaning “spring” is a time marked by particular rituals, such as reception of ashes on Ash Wednesday or the decision to “give up french fries” or “candy” or occasional participation in the Stations of the Cross as some of the Lenten practices.
 
     Lent is a new beginning, a path leading to the certain goal of Easter, Christ’s victory over death. This season urgently calls us to conversion. Christians are asked to return to God "with all their hearts” (Joel 2:12), to refuse to settle for mediocrity and to grow in friendship with the Lord. Jesus is the faithful friend who never abandons us. Even when we sin, he patiently awaits our return; by that patient expectation, he shows us his readiness to forgive (Pope Francis  Homily, 8 January 2016).
 
Therefore, Lent is a great conversion experience, a period of purification to help us become the best version of ourselves, with a special focus on the three Lenten practices: Fasting, Prayer, and Almsgiving.
 

• Fasting- The purpose of fasting is to turn back to God and a sharp reminder that there are more important things in life than food. Lenten fasting helps to release us from our attachments to the things of this world and serves primarily as a spiritual exercise. We do not fast to impress other people. We fast to build our self-mastery and to embrace God more fully in our lives.

 

• Prayer- Although central to the Christian experience, prayer is perhaps the most difficult thing we will ever do. Growing in character and virtue, learning to hear the voice of God in our lives, and walking where He calls us all require the discipline of prayer. Lent is the time to know God, to know ourselves better, and requires prayer– time when we talk to God. There are many different kinds of prayer (adoration, petition, intercession, thanksgiving), but in the end, prayer is simply conversation with God.

 

• Almsgiving- Giving to those in need. We are called to expand the capacities of our hearts as we are invited to share the love of God with other people by being especially generous with our time, talent, and treasure. In truth, we cannot do everything, but what we can do, all of us, is make small sacrifices, and simplify our lives in some small ways so that others may simply live.

    
This Sunday in the life of RCIA we celebrate the Rite of Election. On Sunday afternoon, the group of our candidates and catechumens will enter into the final phase of their preparation for full communion with the Catholic Church. The celebration of the Rite of Election is a moment when the Church celebrates the direct action of the Holy Spirit in our midst as the bishop declares that those who stand before him have been elected by God and are so recognized by the Church.

My dear Catechumens and Candidates, please know that your experience of true conversion of heart, mind and soul, your example of faith and dedication has been a powerful example to all of us who has traveled this road with you. Each of you has been truly blessed and touched by the Spirit of God during this process and we have grown in our personal faith with you. And for this I am most grateful to all of you. I pray for each one of you to grow closer in your relationship with Jesus this Lent.

I want to express words of profound gratitude to everyone who responded to support the Bishop’s Annual Stewardship Appeal- “One faith, One family” last week. Your witness of sacrificial giving and prayerful offering in order to support our family of the Diocese of St. Augustine is such a profound expression of the life of stewardship that we embraced and live by every moment of our lives. I also want to thank in a special way the Stewardship Committee who executed the success of the appeal in our parish.  Thank you!
 
I wish you a blessed first week of Lent! 
 
With prayers,
Fr. Andy