Ash Wednesday

On Ash Wednesday, we begin our Lenten Journey. Let us examine our ways of living our lives and take the opportunity to be transformed. Pope Francis reminds us that as Lent begins, “we begin on our path to conversion as individuals and as a community.” And in this conversion, “we must give way to the central Gospel virtue of love – love for all.
 
In our Lenten booklets, Turn to God, that we will receive on Ash Wednesday (see image below),  you can strengthen your prayer life and your self-reflection. Each day you can pray on the Mass readings of the day, meditate on the words of Sacred Scripture and enter into the Word of God more deeply  through examining the daily reflections. As we “turn to God,” God turns to us in and through His enduring love and mercy. Presented below is the reflection given for Ash Wednesday in our booklet with continuing words from Pope Francis . . .
 
The season of Lent should be lived more intensely as a privileged moment to celebrate and               experience God’s mercy. It is the opportune moment to change our lives! This is the time to allow our hearts to be touched! It is a time to listen to the cry of innocent people who are deprived of their property, their dignity, their feelings, and even their very lives . . . God never tires of reaching out to us. God is always ready to listen. All one needs to do is to accept conversion and submit oneself to justice during this special time of mercy offered by the Church.  – Pope Francis
 
During this time of Lent, let us each look into our heart, the deepest part of our being, and let us honestly examine our relationship with God and with each other. Let us take our first steps on our “path to conversion” by using God’s gift of love.
 
Join your parish family, as we enter into the Lenten journey and . . .
                                                                                                                 
God’s love and peace,  
Fr. John