Dear Parishioners:
Well, believe it or not, Lent is upon us! Easter is later this year – April 20th – but it still seems like Ash Wednesday snuck up on me!
During the Lenten season, there will be a variety of Spiritual Opportunities that will take place. I urge you to take advantage of these Lenten Spiritual Opportunities. Allow the Lord to touch your heart by taking advantage of all the Parish has to offer. But, as with all opportunities, you have to decide to participate or not. Make the choice for God!
I particularly want everyone to set aside March 24th to March 26th for our PARISH MISSION which will be led by Fr. Jonathan Kalisch, OP. Carve out time for the Parish Mission now. I am confident that you will be glad that you did. Bring a friend, especially if he or she has been away from the church for a period of time. Be a good evangelizer! Spread the word!
On Ash Wednesday, the second reading at Mass will be taken from St. Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians. In that passage, St. Paul reminds us that we are “ambassadors for Christ.” That means that you and I represent Christ in a special way, just as any ambassador represents his or her own country and political leadership.
If, then, we are “ambassadors for Christ”, we need to ask ourselves: “Am I a good ambassador for Christ?” An even better question to ask is this: “How can I become an even better ambassador for Christ?” I think the Lenten program here at our St. Patrick Parish Family will help you to become a better ambassador for Christ. Take a look! Challenge yourself to grow spiritually this Lenten season. Bring a friend!
These Lenten opportunities are simply that; opportunities. As with all opportunities, we can choose to take advantage of them or not to take advantage of them. Take advantage of these opportunities; allow the Lord, who loved you so much that He died for you on the Cross, to touch your heart and bring you closer to Him. Remember the old adage: You can bring a horse to water but you can’t make him drink. These Spiritual Opportunities will bring you to the water, but YOU have to choose to drink it. Drink deeply of God’s water!
Sometimes we say, “I would love to do these things, but I am just too busy.” St. Francis de Sales once said, “Every Christian needs a half-hour of prayer each day, except when he is busy, then he needs an hour!” Very wise words from a very saintly man!
In Christ,
Msgr. Brian McNamara