Lenten Obligations
Lent begins a special period that should be a type of annual retreat for all of us. Give more attention to your spiritual life, to prayer, to Scripture reading and meditation, to serious conversion, and to the more faithful practice of the Sacraments. Recall that we as Catholics observe some communal penitential practices during Lent. We abstain from eating meat on all Fridays of Lent. In addition, on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday we also fast (that is, we eat fewer meals).
Don’t allow yourself to simply observe these practices in an absentminded fashion. Rather, recall that their real purpose is to drive us to give more attention to our souls and our spiritual hunger. Each of us can observe these practices. Whether we are in the break room at work, whether we are at home, or whether we are at the cafeteria at the high school, we have precious opportunities to recall our hunger for God and that our true fulfillment is found only in Him.
Recall the venerable practice of Stations of the Cross on Fridays. We will have simple Lenten meals in Ross Hall beforehand. I would like to see parishioners of all ages, especially parents and children participate more regularly in Friday Stations. Also, don’t forget the CD and brochure titles in our display case in the foyer of the church. Those titles provide some good opportunities for you this Lent. We have many titles back there for teens, families, and married couples. Make good use of them. In the bulletin we have printed Lenten regulations, which should be observed as printed.
Our friends in RCIA now enter a more intense period of preparation before they enter the Church at Easter. You will see them at the various ceremonies during Lent at the 10 a.m. Mass. I ask you to pray for them, that their hard work will come to fulfillment and that the Lord will continue to shine his light of faith upon them. Please introduce yourselves to them and make them feel at home in our parish.
Fr. Hamilton
