Dear Friends,
While we have (hopefully!!) turned a corner in the winter weather season, our spiritual lives have also turned a corner this week into the liturgical season of Lent -- the Church’s annual 40-day retreat.
Lent is a time of special prayer, fasting, and almsgiving which is good for the soul, the body and our neighbors. During this time we pray in a special way for the men, women, and young people who are catechumens in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) preparing for the Easter sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist, along with others who are already-baptized candidates for reception into full communion with the Catholic Church. We look forward to celebrating with them as they become the newest members of our spiritual family at the powerful Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night, and I hope that you might mark the date now on your calendars and plan to be with us!
May the call of Lent invite and inspire each of us to renew our efforts at turning away from sin so that we might be even more faithful disciples of the gospel of Christ!
Have a great Lent!
Monsignor Jarboe
