Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

      Do not be caught unaware!  This is not a dire warning but rather a reminder that Holy Lent will soon be here, in fact this coming Wednesday. This year we have had a very short time between Epiphany and Lent and so we may feel it has sneaked up on us, nonetheless we have time to set for ourselves our spiritual program for the 40 days ahead.

     Generally, after Christmastide we fall into a spiritual slump.  Those externals of the season are gone, the dark and cold take their toll and we start to long for more sunlight, warmth and sunshine.  Of course, we anticipate the new life and growth that come.  But first we must pass through the “valley of death” which we call Lent.  Surely it is not a time of gloom and doom but rather a time for regeneration and spiritual renewal.  Mother Church, brilliant and loving as She is toward Her children, provides the necessary disciplines that make Lent successful, not in a material sense, rather for our spiritual growth and development. Prayer, fasting, and acts of charity are the disciplines we happily take upon ourselves to reach the goal, which is greater union with Jesus Christ.  Walking the Stations of the Cross with Him on Fridays or any other time, daily Rosary, even better, daily Mass, Bible reading and study, learning more about our Faith; abstaining from the things we think we cannot live without, following the regulations for fasting from meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays and having abbreviated meals; assisting in our parish outreach programs through the St. Vincent de Paul society; making a sacrificial donation to our sister parish of St. Anthony in Ghana, are just a few of the many ways we can make our spiritual journey to the great and glorious day of Easter.  Let us also remember in prayer those who are making their final ascent into the fullness of Faith at the Easter Vigil.

     Be sure to always take a bulletin home so as not to miss the Lenten opportunities and join in our journey together.

With Blessings,

Father Langan