This Friday as a faith community we are invited to participate in the “24 Hours for the Lord” initiative, also known as the “24 Hours of Mercy.”  The publication, “Catholic Communications” reported that The Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization has said the theme this year that will guide the initiative is, “ God is rich in mercy.” (Ephesians 2:4).

At Saint Brigid, during this special time of grace, in addition to our many events and activities, we will have a Holy Hour with Divine Mercy Devotion, Anointing of the Sick, and time for reflection and personal prayer.  We will also offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Many of our parishioners and friends have received this sacrament after our Lenten Parish Mission this past week.  At the Mission, Dr. Allen Hunt inspired many to take advantage of this opportunity for forgiveness.

We encourage the faithful to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the Lenten season, especially those who could not participate in our Parish Mission this past week.  Our Holy Father has called Lent a time for repentance, spiritual renewal, conversion, and transformation.  He has urged us to avail ourselves of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, acknowledging that we are all sinners in need of God’s mercy.  He has also challenged us to make a daily and thorough examination of conscience during which we quietly acknowledge the wrong things we have done as well as the good things we have failed to do.

Our Holy Father reminds us that Confession is meant to be a sincere time of conversion and spiritual healing, an occasion to demonstrate trust in God’s willingness to forgive his children and to help them back on the path of following Jesus.  As we know the Sacrament of Reconciliation is not here to punish us but rather to get us closer to the Lord who loves us. In one of his Lenten Messages, Pope Francis stated, “If we humbly implore God’s grace and accept our own limitations, we will trust in in the infinite possibilities which God’s love holds out for us.”  He also challenged us to extend God’s mercy to those around us.  He said, “Anyone who wishes to be merciful must have a strong and steadfast heart, closed to the tempter, but open to God.”  Pope Francis has also stated, “Every time we go to confession, God embraces us and celebrates.”

In this Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy we are invited to heed the challenge of Our Holy Father to avail ourselves of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and participate in this “24 Hours of Mercy” initiative as we await the glory of the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior.