This week we will offer a Lenten Parish Mission on Monday, February 27th, and Tuesday, February 28th. 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 Fr. Herald J. Brock of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and will focus on the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and on the Eucharist as food for our spiritual journey. It will also focus on the power of the Eucharist to assist in the need for reconciliation and healing at this time of the Church year.
Lent is a good time to seek healing. It is a time to reflect on the wounds and slights that all too often impact our relationships with family members and friends. Lent is a 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 embrace the Eucharist, and assist us in our efforts to resist these temptations, as we strive to 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. We are invited to avail ourselves of this Sacrament during the Lenten season. 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 attend our Mission and enhance our appreciation for the Eucharist and gain some practical insights on how we can better live our lives as followers of Christ. We will offer morning and evening sessions. 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 Mission and avail yourself of this special time of grace.