This week we will host a Lenten Parish Mission from Monday, March 2nd to Wednesday, March 4th. A Parish Mission can provide an opportunity for spiritual growth as we strive to renew and strengthen our relationship with the Lord. The Mission will be presented by Deacons Eddie Ensley and Robert Hermann. They are nationally recognized presenters, with many years of experience in leading parish missions. The Theme of the Mission is “Finding Inner Peace.”
Deacons Eddie and Robert will focus on the importance of prayer, and how Mary, as our model of prayer and discipleship, points us to Jesus, and how Mary’s example can help us deal with some of the difficulties of daily living. They will also focus on the ways we can effectively seek healing and reconciliation in our relationships with family members and friends.
For many of us, Lent is a good time to seek healing, and reflect on the wounds and slights that all too often impact our relationships with family members and friends. We can take the time to consider which way we are heading, and how we may be able to alter our spiritual course. It is also a good time to confront the temptations that are all around us. These temptations are very real and very powerful. The Mission can help us address these temptations and make real and substantive progress on our Lenten journey.
As we know, Jesus came to call sinners, not the self-righteous. As previously mentioned, one of our leading catholic scholars reminds us that sin has both a personal and communal dimension. Sin clouds the mind in moral confusion and closes the heart to God’s love and truth. But in God’s light, we see sin for what it really is. When we sin, it does not necessarily mean that we are bad people. It means that we are missing the mark and refusing to listen to God’s word and obey His will. As a way to get back on the mark and follow the light of Christ, our Church places a special emphasis on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we can cleanse our souls as we prepare for the commemoration of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. We are invited to avail ourselves of the Sacrament during the Lenten season.
We are also invited to attend our Mission and gain some practical insights on how we can better live our lives as followers of Christ, and there will be both morning and evening sessions offered to help accommodate our schedules. Details concerning the Mission can be obtained from the Parish Bulletin and website as well as from the Parish office.
I hope that you will prayerfully consider joining us for this Parish Mission and avail yourself of this great opportunity to enhance the importance of your Lenten journey.